# Apparently saying "all lives matter" is racist according to a BLM's co-founder. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083 "2016-07-16T23:16:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/81 "2016-07-17T22:23:39Z")
Somebody’s confused. A stranger walked up to me ten years ago, said “Hot enough for you?” I said “Looks like it will rain.” He said “All lives matter.” Was this racist? Of course not. It did seem out of context though. I asked him if had any extra 'shrooms and walked on. But that’s not what you meant. Lately, blatant idiots and racists have been saying “All lives matter” _ **in context** _. If you weren’t sure that this is asinine and racist, reread the thread. So somebody, quoted by FauxNews at a wingnut website, says the sentence is racist. Now, one can imagine the woman saying something more tautological, as though she were instructing a jury or preparing an article for peer review. She could have said “In the present context, that statement is purposeless — either the speaker has woken from a years-long slumber ignorant of current events OR the person is bafflingly obtuse OR is some inhumane pedant OR, most likely, is racist.” Yes, such a qualified sentence would have been more accurate technically than to just say “That statement is racist.” @ **Idle Thoughts** - Surely you didn’t start this thread just to make that point. What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/82 "2016-07-17T22:31:03Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > actually it’s 84% but lets expand on what you just said. > [According to the US Department of Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_crime_in_the_United_States), blacks accounted for 52.5% of homicide offenders from 1980 to 2008, with whites 45.3% and “Other” 2.2%. The offending rate for blacks was almost 8 times higher than whites, and the victim rate 6 times higher. Most homicides were intraracial, with 84% of white victims killed by whites, and 93% of black victims killed by blacks. > Because BLM specifically focuses on black lives and a rate that is 8 times higher rate is an 800% difference. > > It’s relevant to the discussion about black lives actually mattering. BLM has condemned black-on-black violence very strongly since its inception. There are many other black-led movements and organizations whose primary focus is reducing black-on-black crime. BLM is an organization focused on police mistreatment of black people. Not every organization needs to focus on every bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/83 "2016-07-17T22:36:10Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Not every organization needs to focus on every bad thing. I believe that **Magiver** writes periodic letters to the American Cancer Society, demanding to know why they ignore heart disease and multiple sclerosis and diabetes. And why aren’t you called the American Health Society, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/84 "2016-07-17T22:43:13Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > No-one is ignoring or hand-waving the numbers. The number of shootings and killings in Chicago is large, and is incredibly depressing. > > He was simply noting that your use of the word “exponential” demonstrates an ignorance of what that word means. Exponential does not mean “large” or “incredibly big” or “significant” or “massive.” > > Here is a [graph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Chicago#/media/File:Chicago_Murder_Rates.png) of the number of homicides in Chicago since the early 1960s. Ask a mathematician if the line in this graph represent exponential change in the the murder rate, especially over the last 10 years or so. most mathematicians know what year it is. My cite shows 350 deaths so far this year and that’s not fully half way through. So your chart showing a total of 432 in 2014 and 488 in 2016 means a July 14 adjustment for those 2 years of 199 and 229 respectively. Right now 2016 is at least 100 deaths ahead of both years. Seems like an accelerating number to me but I didn’t plot it out day by day. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/85 "2016-07-17T22:43:16Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > @ **Idle Thoughts** - Surely you didn’t start this thread just to make that point. What am I missing? First of all, I believe you have my point wrong. I’ve said it a few times in this thread, though. Secondly, it was made to see how many agree or disagree with the linked article. Seems many in here, like me, seem to disagree with it somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/86 "2016-07-17T22:50:35Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > BLM has condemned black-on-black violence very strongly since its inception. Really? the numbers are going up not down. I’m not seeing them march through crackdown. I see them marching through shopping areas and shutting down highways. So unless black on black violence is happening where they’re protesting I’m going to call bullshit on any claim made by BLM in this respect. They’re literally another occupy wallstreet wanna-be rebels without a clue and now they’re sucking in violent racist groups like the New Blank Panthers. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/87 "2016-07-17T22:51:44Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > most mathematicians know what year it is. My cite shows 350 deaths so far this year and that’s not fully half way through. So your chart showing a total of 432 in 2014 and 488 in 2016 means a July 14 adjustment for those 2 years of 199 and 229 respectively. > > Right now 2016 is at least 100 deaths ahead of both years. > > Seems like an accelerating number to me but I didn’t plot it out day by day. So, you’re just confirming that you don’t know what exponential means, then? You also seem to have a different definition of “not fully half way through.” Did they add another month or two to the year while i wasn’t looking? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/88 "2016-07-17T22:56:16Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > So, you’re just confirming that you don’t know what exponential means, then? > > You also seem to have a different definition of “not fully half way through.” Did they add another month or two to the year while i wasn’t looking? My cite was as of July 14 which is not half way through the year. But go ahead and argue that an accelerating rise in deaths doesn’t fit the description. Wait, sorry it is past the half way mark, I guess that makes all the dead people meaningless. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/89 "2016-07-17T22:57:16Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Really? the numbers are going up not down. Talk about moving the goalposts. Now you’re arguing that they should not only condemn black-on-black violence, but they are also to blame if their criticisms don’t actually lead to a reduction in the rate of violence? Another example of holding all African Americans responsible for the actions of some. I guess they’re all just the same, right? No point distinguishing between them as individuals, i suppose? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/90 "2016-07-17T22:58:40Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > My cite was as of July 14 which is not half way through the year. It’s not? As i asked before, did they add a month while i wasn’t looking? Maybe we should call you **Mathgiver**. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/91 "2016-07-17T23:02:49Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Really? the numbers are going up not down. I’m not seeing them march through crackdown. I see them marching through shopping areas and shutting down highways. So unless black on black violence is happening where they’re protesting I’m going to call bullshit on any claim made by BLM in this respect. > > They’re literally another occupy wallstreet wanna-be rebels without a clue and now they’re sucking in violent racist groups like the New Blank Panthers. They condemn it, but that’s not their focus. It’s okay for organizations to focus on different things. There are multiple black-led organizations that focus on black inner city violence. Not every organization needs to focus on every bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/92 "2016-07-18T00:01:37Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Unless I’m missing something, saying “everyone deserves a living wage” _would_ mean something in terms of what we should do, wouldn’t it? I mean, yeah, question of emphasis and all – but it’d technically mean agreeing with your specific proposal, right? Refocusing the discussion to include those with a living wage already takes attention away from getting a living wage for those who need it. This doesn’t have anything to do with specific proposals, just calls to action. If any BLM proponent proposed that the solution to police inequality was to have them start shooting white people at the same rate, then ALM would be a good thing to bring up. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/93 "2016-07-18T00:09:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Right. “Why do you hate the police?” in response to “and it so happens that black lives are especially at risk so we need to do something about it” tells you something about the person point of view. Even saying “All lives matter” after all that does also. This issue could have been avoided if the slogan was “Black lives matter too”. It’s not, so if this slogan is going to mean anything then there has to be a consistent message that about black lives not being treated as if they mattered, not accusations of racism and falling into a semantics trap. This is not a game, say “Black lives matter” and explain the context if that’s not understood. Since I haven’t heard any BLM spokesperson say that white lives don’t matter, the too is implied. And short slogans are better. I don’t want to accuse anyone of anything, but ALM is not saying something important, but is mostly used as a counter and a devaluation of BLM. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/94 "2016-07-18T01:01:41Z")
> [@Jamicat](#): > > “All Lives Matter”, is Inclusive, it is racially ambiguous. > > “Black Lives Matter”, is Exclusive to anyone not Black, thus not racially ambiguous. > > One is not racist, while the other is by definition, racist. > > What the dilemma? :dubious: Totally agreed. This by the way is my problem with Blue Lives Matters. Any police officer who’s signed onto this exclusive movement clearly doesn’t believe civilian lives matter and should be fired on the spot. Agreed? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/95 "2016-07-18T01:28:58Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > They condemn it, but that’s not their focus. It’s okay for organizations to focus on different things. There are multiple black-led organizations that focus on black inner city violence. Not every organization needs to focus on every bad thing. No, it’s not OK for organizations to focus on different things when it singles out a race. It foments anger and hatred and is a lightening rod for racist groups like the New Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/96 "2016-07-18T01:31:51Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > [Story here.](http://endingthefed.com/black-lives-matter-co-founder-demands-white-folks-stop-saying-all-lives-matterits-racist.html) > > So I’m wondering what the posters here have to say about this…do you agree? > Me, I understand and get that it’s been used to quash “black lives matter” discussion and protesting, but this sort of rubs me the wrong way. It just strikes me as being an extreme blanket statement where the person is overly generalizing something and grouping everyone and everything about it into the same boat. > > I agree with and support the BLM movement, but deep down, I have to say I do think all races should matter. If that apparently means I’m making racist comments now, then I guess I’m guilty. > > What about you? Do you think saying “all lives matter” is a racist thing to say? Yes or no? I don’t think any phrase or symbol is intrinsically racist. So no. I think the “that’s racist1!!!” card is nothing more than a disingenuous tactic. It’s despicable wherever it’s used and those using it should feel bad. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/97 "2016-07-18T01:41:44Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > BLM never stood for Black Lives Matter. If it did it would focus on the ridiculously high levels of violence within the black community. > [@Magiver](#): > > Yes, there is a basic difference. The exponential amount of murders within black communities. > [@Magiver](#): > > No, it’s not OK for organizations to focus on different things when it singles out a race. It foments anger and hatred and is a lightening rod for racist groups like the New Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam. So they shouldn’t be singling out one race, but they should, in your opinion, be focusing specifically on violence in black communities. OK then. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/98 "2016-07-18T02:53:15Z")
I wonder what BLM thinks of the editor-in-chief of the Kankakee _City News_, an alternative newspaper for and run by blacks, saying “all lives matter”. I’m guessing not much due the paper supporting Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/99 "2016-07-18T04:02:59Z")
I wouldn’t call it racist; more like tone deaf. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083/100 "2016-07-18T11:07:30Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > [Story here.](http://endingthefed.com/black-lives-matter-co-founder-demands-white-folks-stop-saying-all-lives-matterits-racist.html) > > So I’m wondering what the posters here have to say about this…do you agree? > Me, I understand and get that it’s been used to quash “black lives matter” discussion and protesting, but this sort of rubs me the wrong way. It just strikes me as being an extreme blanket statement where the person is overly generalizing something and grouping everyone and everything about it into the same boat. > > I agree with and support the BLM movement, but deep down, I have to say I do think all races should matter. If that apparently means I’m making racist comments now, then I guess I’m guilty. > > What about you? Do you think saying “all lives matter” is a racist thing to say? Yes or no? Yes. When said in response to BLM, it’s a racist statement every time. Doesn’t mean the person saying it is a dedicated racist, but it’s a racist thing to say. When told “Black Lives Matter”, the only non-racist response is “Yep, totally agree” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-saying-all-lives-matter-is-racist-according-to-a-blms-co-founder/760083.md?page=6)