Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is a modern socio-political phenomenon in the United States. It emerged spontaneously and unexpectedly in 2013 as a reaction to police violence and discrimination against African Americans. Over the past 11 years, its influence has grown dramatically.
Over time, it has become evident that this is a complex phenomenon, difficult to explain due to the movement’s often vague and unclear goals. BLM lacks a hierarchical structure, operating instead as a decentralized entity with over 40 affiliated organizations across the U.S. and Canada. However, it can be argued that BLM does not solely advocate for the civil rights of Black Americans (and to what extent it does is debatable) but is a politically radical left-wing movement aiming to fundamentally reshape the United States.
Origins
The movement was born in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenager. The phrase “Black Lives Matter” first appeared as a social media slogan, coined by three Black activists: Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi. They expressed anger and frustration over injustices faced by the Black community.
The movement quickly spread across the U.S., becoming a platform for activists advocating for African American rights. BLM became a symbol of the fight for justice in 2014 after the killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York. The deaths of these African Americans at the hands of police officers became a catalyst for further mobilization. Massive protests ensued, sparking public debates on racism, police reform, and the criminal justice system.
Ideology
The ideology of BLM is complex but rooted in the belief that the U.S. legal system, mainstream media, and society at large are inherently proponents and enforcers of white supremacy. This movement, which bases its ideology on such a simplistic and imprudent interpretation of American reality, might have been relegated to the margins but gained prominence due to a series of circumstances. Indeed, it has become one of the most significant movements in 21st-century America.
While there is no doubt that discrimination and injustice exist against various ethnic and racial groups in the U.S. (notably among Latino and Asian Americans), the assertion that the U.S. in 2015 is fundamentally built on white racism is either naive or malicious. If true, no African American would have ever been elected President, appointed as ministers, or served in Congress and federal courts because a racist political system would have prohibited it.
BLM activists argue that the American police force is “irreparable” and should have its funding significantly reduced, with resources redirected to address the needs of the Black population to improve their standard of living. Police reform, according to BLM, would include mandatory body cameras for officers, elimination of legal immunity for police, and the removal of military-grade equipment from police forces. Beyond police reform, BLM advocates for a judiciary overhaul to eliminate systemic racism.
Activists argue that the incarceration rate for Black Americans is disproportionately high and that they are treated unfairly compared to other offenders. They also call for more lenient penalties for drug offenses. Economically, BLM promotes policies that ensure investments in education, public health, housing, and employment in predominantly Black communities. In education, the movement insists on mandatory anti-racism curricula in schools. BLM also calls for American society to confront the historical legacy of slavery, racial segregation, and discrimination. Additionally, the movement seeks to change how media and popular culture portray African Americans, aiming to eliminate negative stereotypes.
A Radically Left-Wing Movement
Ideologically, BLM leans firmly towards left-wing and radical leftist positions, particularly concerning issues like “defunding the police” and reforming the capitalist system. The idea of redirecting funds from one sector (in this case, the police) to social programs targeting specific communities (Black communities) mirrors principles from Marxist-Leninist textbooks. Such practices were prevalent in communist states and, more recently, in socialist-led governments in Latin American countries like Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Ecuador.
According to BLM, the capitalist system fails to adequately support impoverished African Americans, pushing them into a life of crime. BLM advocates for greater labor rights, particularly for Black workers often employed in low-paying and less secure jobs. The movement seeks certain workers’ rights in corporations, resembling the self-management system seen in former Yugoslavia. BLM also prominently supports LGBTQ+ rights, focusing on the rights of transgender individuals within the African American community, who BLM claims face double discrimination.
The movement overly emphasizes racial divisions, exacerbating the already polarized nature of American society. It is inaccurate to assert that only African Americans face discrimination when other minority groups experience similar issues. Asian Americans, for example, have faced even greater discrimination, as evidenced by the rise in hate crimes against Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research suggests that BLM overlooks broader issues of violence and crime, reducing everything to racial factors. While the movement is formally anti-racist, it exhibits elements of Black racism against white people. According to BLM, the problem lies in the political system shaped predominantly by white Americans, implying that the white majority, who live better than Black Americans, is to blame. While not all members of the movement are racist, a segment undoubtedly harbors racist inclinations. The movement openly acknowledges its leftist orientation, collaborating with radical left groups in the U.S. such as Antifa, the Democratic Socialists of America, labor movements, and radical communist and socialist organizations like the Communist Party USA.
The Massive 2020 Protests
BLM reached its peak during the height of the COVID-19 crisis in America in 2020. While Americans were confined to their homes, fearing a virus with deadly consequences, BLM activists called on the public to break quarantine and join their protests in city streets. Around 20 million Americans participated in these demonstrations. The protests were directed against Trump’s campaign and served the campaign of Joe Biden. Large gatherings contributed to the spread of the coronavirus. This was paradoxical, as BLM activists and Democrats criticized the Trump administration for not doing enough to prevent the pandemic, yet they engaged in similar behavior.
As the site of George Floyd’s death in May 2020, Minneapolis became the epicenter of the protests. Although most demonstrations were peaceful, in many cases, protesters initiated chaos, large-scale unrest, and violent incidents. During the summer and fall of 2020, some American cities resembled scenes from a zombie apocalypse or turbulent banana republics like Colombia and Argentina. Riots in Minneapolis began almost immediately after Floyd’s death, with buildings and police stations set ablaze and clashes with law enforcement. Violent protests and property destruction were also reported in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia, and elsewhere. BLM also inspired global protests, although these should not be overly attributed to BLM itself, as the movement did not directly control them.
Escalation of Violence
In the capital, protests took place near the White House, leading to outbreaks of violence. President Donald Trump even ordered an increased presence of federal law enforcement and the National Guard to restore order. In New York, protests spread across various neighborhoods, including Manhattan and Brooklyn. Clashes with the police, acts of vandalism, and looting occurred in areas like SoHo and Midtown Manhattan. In parts of Los Angeles, including Fairfax and Santa Monica, there were incidents of vandalism and looting. The city imposed a curfew in an attempt to calm the situation. In Chicago, unrest broke out downtown, with significant looting of stores in the Magnificent Mile shopping district. The city implemented a curfew for several days, and bridges leading to the city center were raised to control access. In Atlanta, the CNN headquarters was damaged.
In Portland, riots lasted for months, and federal law enforcement was deployed to restore order. Notably, in Seattle (Washington State), protesters established the so-called Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP), an autonomous zone where protesters controlled a part of the city without police presence for several weeks in June 2020. This zone experienced clashes and several violent incidents, including fatal shootings, which brought the modern “Paris Commune” experiment to an end. The leftist utopia did not last long, as anarchy revealed its true face. Although exact figures vary, total damages from the violent BLM protests in 2020 are estimated at $1 to $2 billion. These damages include property destruction, insurance costs, retail losses, and other economic impacts resulting from the unrest.
Widespread Corruption Within the Movement
While BLM as a movement is ideologically radical-left, its leaders may be leftists in theory but are, in reality, political opportunists who embrace capitalism. Undoubtedly, BLM leaders are hungry for power, fame, and wealth, using their positions to enhance their material status. They are far from modest socialists.
In 2022, allegations emerged against activists and a leader of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF), Shalomyah Bowers, accusing him of misappropriating $10 million in donations received by the organization. This foundation, effectively BLM’s umbrella organization, oversees the operations of other chapters. Although a California court dismissed the accusations from lower-ranking BLM activists in 2023, suspicions about the organization’s true intentions remain. According to federal records, despite receiving $90 million in donations in recent years, the organization ended 2022 with a $9 million deficit.
BLMGNF’s records reveal that Bowers and associates charged $1.69 million for consulting and management services while spending $14 million on purchasing luxury properties in Los Angeles and Toronto. Even if they didn’t break U.S. laws, this behavior reflects classic corruption and embezzlement within the organization. Most of the $90 million donated with good intentions by people worldwide, particularly after George Floyd’s death in May 2020, did not reach Black communities or improve education, healthcare, or financial conditions—the movement’s stated goals. Instead, the funds were spent on real estate and personal gains for a few leaders.
In response to these allegations, BLM issued an official statement accusing their own members, who filed lawsuits for theft, of acting out of “white supremacy.” It would be laughable if tens of millions of dollars weren’t at stake. Such scandals have opened the eyes of many average observers and supporters of BLM, revealing that corruption isn’t exclusive to the American right. Even leftists can be profoundly corrupt. Fraudsters are not confined to BLM but also exist in significant structures within the Democratic Party. For instance, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson were convicted of corruption. President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has faced numerous investigations and was convicted of tax evasion and illegal firearm possession, among other accusations.
A Tense Future
Black Lives Matter is a complex and controversial movement. It originated from noble motives, responding to police violence and the suffering of the African-American community. Racism in America is a real issue, as are problems with excessive police force. However, over time, it became evident that BLM has evolved into a leftist activist organization.
The movement’s slide into radicalism was evident during the violent protests of 2020. That year, the Democratic Party leveraged the movement to mobilize Black voters for Biden. However, even after the Democratic administration took power, the movement did not disappear, contrary to expectations, as Biden’s administration pledged to address BLM’s concerns.
There’s no doubt that the movement will persist in the near future. Why? Because it is based on a radical left ideology aiming to fundamentally transform the U.S., dismantling capitalism and the existing American society. Although it is unlikely to destroy capitalism (as its leaders do not truly wish to), BLM can contribute to the fragmentation of an already divided American society.