Holy 2016!

[Irock]

I'm living in the land of medical marijuana, obscene property values, and perpetually gorgeous weather. But I've become much younger in the pants.

[James]

That was fun while it lasted...

[aquaphase]

Recruitment drive!!!!

[sam]

I'm guessing you're getting as worn down as me (maybe more since I don't watch a ton of news) by the slogan tennis match going on. Does anyone think the name (only the name and not the content) "Black Lives Matter" may have been a strategic misstep? It seems to lead very directly to "All Lives Matter", "Blue Lives Matter" (not "White Lives Matter", yet). Wouldn't "Our Lives Matter" have been more powerful, especially in the context of a protest? How can anyone argue with that?

[aquaphase]

I think "Our" could still be seen as co-optive.

I think this cartoon sums it up about as well as can be.

[sam]

Actually, it was that specific cartoon that got me thinking about this. It explains the point nicely, but how many months did it take to get that idea out there and how many people have already made up their minds?

I don't know how they got their start, but I imagine they went through a series of ideas and BLM is the one that stuck, that got the strongest response from inside the group. They may not have thought through the most likely responses from their opponents. How much of the group/movements energy is going in to trying to clarify their message? How much energy have their opponents co-opted? I'm just thinking about the nuts and bolts of getting these sorts of things going.

[aquaphase]

That's a really interesting point, Sam. The Herstory over on the BLM's site has an interesting account of their message/movement and how it's been borrowed and changed.

[sam]

That's a really interesting point, Sam. The Herstory over on the BLM's site has an interesting account of their message/movement and how it's been borrowed and changed.

There's a whole lot going on there that I'm completely unqualified to comment on. It is interesting that the word solidarity comes up toward the end after so many specifics about black identity. Seems like there is some inherent tension in those ideas.