Accountability matters. As for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) organization, people are starting to question the effectiveness, impact, and purpose of the organization and its leaders because there are more questions than answers, and still more problems than solutions.
BLM is not a new organization; it has been around for nearly eight years. Its newfound media attention helped generated millions of dollars from individuals and corporations attempting to be woke. Many thought by putting up a sign in their lawn, posting a black square on their social media pages, using a hashtag, or donating millions – allowing the BLM to raise an unprecedented $90 million dollars – somehow make Black Americans feel validated because of these gestures.
BLM founders said they were trained Marxists who wanted to dismantle the nuclear Black family unit and not support Israel during the most recent terrorist attacks from Hamas. There are many concerns about the organization. For months, they sat silently while Black communities literally burned to the ground, Black-owned businesses looted, dreams destroyed, and lives lost in their name.
I recall the despair of Ms. Lucy Hosley pleading in front of her store in New York saying, ““We’ve been here all-night cleaning up. Tell me ‘Black Lives Matter.’ They’re lying…you said Black Lives Matter — why don’t you choke me? I’m Black, look what you did to my store.” I, like many people, have not heard of BLM paying to rebuild her store.
During the violent unrest in Minnesota, BLM did not rebuild Flora’s Hair Design, which so-called “peaceful protests” destroyed after the death of George Floyd. One would think BLM would have stepped in using the millions they received to help restore that salon, but no, she had to rely on a go fund me campaign.
At some point, people get fed up with talk and no action. Those living in the community see organizations profiting off their pain and begin to question motivations and legitimately ask, do our lives really matter or is it just a slogan?
The mother of Tamir Rice is fed up with what she sees from BLM and others in this movement. She issued a blistering statement where she said, “Tamika D. Mallory, Shaun King, Benjamin Crump, Lee Merritt, Patrisse Cullors, Melina Abdullah and the Black Lives Matter Global Network need to step down, stand back, and stop monopolizing and capitalizing off our fight for justice and human rights…We don’t want or need y’all parading in the streets accumulating donations, platforms, movie deals, etc. off the death of our loved ones, while the families and communities are left clueless and broken.”
It is not just Samira Rice, the father of Michael Brown publicly demanded $20 million from BLM after he and others found out exactly how much money BLM was making. The International Black Freedom Alliance pointed out, “To this date #MikeBrown father said he has received only $500 from any #BlackLivesMatter affiliated group even though they organize an annual commemoration weekend for their son along with many other events with other families for healing and empowerment.”
Now, after a year of looting and violence coupled with increased crime in major American cities, support for BLM decreased. Additionally, people also noticed that one of the BLM Co-Founders, Patrisse Khan-Cullors purchased million dollar homes, published books and got TV deals which raised questions to be asked about the organization’s funds. While she claims her resignation as Executive Director was in the works for a year, she only recently announced it after all this new negative attention about the BLM organization.
Playing off the emotions and fears of not being labeled racist, BLM and their Democrat allies guilted people and companies into thinking putting up a BLM signs is how you fix race relations or unite the nation. They told us this is how you get justice. It was all a lie, just like Critical Race Theory and reparations. It will not work.
While support for the BLM organization is eroding for good reason, we must be mindful that the Biden Administration and Democrats are still pushing to change America into their radical vision for a more progressive future. Instead of funding organizations that profit off of pain and do nothing to solve, empower, or unite, we need to focus on existing local organizations, such as churches and people that are genuinely doing the work to make our communities. We must empower those working to make country great for everyone, especially those in the Black community, and that is not the BLM organization.
Paris Dennard is the National Spokesperson and Director of Black Media Affairs for the Republican National Committee (RNC). Follow him on Twitter: @PARISDENNARD.