What’s wrong with “All Lives Matter”?

Yet again, in verse, we revisit right wing tactics

though, and I will come back to this:

indistinguishable from groomed mental gymnastics,

have no doubt, some are pretenders,

a straw man army of white supremacy defenders.

So, again, they twist and misrepresent

to stir up anger and make white people resent

this, a most justified call for justice

and deny the movement’s righteousness.

They try to say that or cry of “black lives matter“

means we don’t think white lives have value

A naked lie to foster white anger.

This is the genesis of the refrain “All lives matter”.

I’ll explain why these words are redundant

and therefore why it’s use is an implicit judgement;

A dismissal of our assertion that white supremacy reigns,

A refutation of our heartfelt protest, chants and refrains.

It’s a way for some to simply laugh

at our outrage and mock our hurting hearts

while we react to the murder of black women and men

this injustice - that happens again, again and again.

As usual, they respond with patronising and sceptical chatter,

with dishonest arguments that claim we deny white lives matter;

a tiresome feigned ignorance

that ignores the point entirely;

That, when it comes to the value of white lives,

there’s just no need to remind this society.

Our world already knows there is worth to white lives.

Even the, too many, white people poor and deprived

At least enjoy the privilege of sympathy.

Reserved for white hardship, seen as a tragic anomaly.

Contrast that with the response to black poverty

the indifference it can be met with,

that sense of inevitability.

Which, side note, could be argued to be true

- as a result of, you know, systemic racism,

like we’ve been fucking telling you!

But, course the right give their own reasons to explain it

Often even twisting and turning the truth against blackness .

Feeding on perfect examples of systemic racism like vultures.

So they can redefine them as a result of a fault in black culture.

This movement comes down to fighting these lies.

we are talking just about the value about black lives

Because is not white peoples

we’ve, countless times, watched die.

correction: be murdered

- at the hands police:

those, so called, keepers of the peace.

But remember, these words don’t always come from racists and liars

“All lives matter” isn’t always, as I’ve set out

a false attempt to divide us.

Always leave room for the chance they’ve just been misled

- for which until they meet the truth they shouldn’t be shamed.

So, call out false arguments, as I’ve said.

But also, with open hearts, explain

that there is complicity in repeating it

That though, of course all lives do matter

In this context they must stop saying it.

Though forgivable in ignorance and, clearly, good faith

They still contribute to this lie’s sheen of legitimacy and weight,

They still help it dig it’s hooks into white consciousness

Where it fosters festering division and hate.