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“All Lives Matter” — About Half as Much as His
Talking about systemic racism with a wealthy, white man.
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“Why do they say ‘Black lives matter’?” asked a white man I know. He inherited general wealth, and considers himself a Christian. “ALL lives matter.”
“It means ‘Black lives DO matter,’” I explained.
“Well, of course,” he said.
Not at all, man. Not in our institutions. Not in the application of laws. Not as measured by outcomes. And not in this election.
This man has internalized all of the racist stereotypes and fear-mongering about Kamala Harris, a smart and strong Black woman, although he’d never see it that way. He’d claim he voted for Trump for “economic reasons.” What he really voted for is gatekeeping his economy.
Here are the facts about “all lives” mattering.
Black lives do not matter.
Black Americans are more likely to lack health insurance and access to health care, and have worse health outcomes than the general population, according to KFF, experts in health policy.
Their life expectancy is nearly five years shorter compared to White people (72.8…
