All lives matter doesn’t need to be said; it’s taken for granted as if we’re successfully upholding that notion. Black Lives Matter exists as a great big exclaimation point on our society to tell us, we are NOT. We are failing to uphold this universal truth.

If you believe ALL LIVES MATTER: good for you, you are correct, and I know you are not saying it in bad faith. But you are missing the point, and missing the fact that some, especially a few very influential people, ARE saying it in bad faith.

To respond to Black Lives Matter with All Lives Matter is to shout overtop of the cry for help against the injustice with what we all should already know, instead of just stopping to listen, to hear, to understand the cry, the plea for help from our brothers, sisters, friends.

This is not some rally cry of some political movement; this is a plea, from the people same as us who want to participate in a greater society but for one difference they have had no choice over in their lives. Their skin color. And so yes, Black Lives Matter. It needs to be said

It needs to be heard.