Just about anyone you meet will tell you that they know the Black Lives Matter movement. However, many people do not fully understand the meaning of the phrase nor the goals of the movement to promote racial justice and equality. Some of this misunderstanding has manifested through the opposing phrase “All Lives Matter,” dismissing the peaceful protests as riots and looting, and other examples meant to dismiss the legitimacy of the movement.

Black Lives Matter is an organization that was officially founded in 2013 in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of George Zimmerman in his murder. Black Lives Matter is an independently practiced organization with no true leader that seeks to promote racial equity and end police violence in America and worldwide in response to being targeted based on race. Systemic racism in the justice system has caused it to become unfairly rigged against people of color, especially Black men. It is not uncommon for two people who committed almost the same crime to get wildly different sentences based on the color of their skin. Violence against people of color is a huge issue that White people often do not face; a White person does not need to fear a traffic stop, whereas Philando Castile lost his life at one.

The Black Lives Matter movement does not seek to dismiss lives other than Black lives. However, Black lives are the ones that the organization chooses to focus on because of this systemic discrimination. People of color have been unfairly disadvantaged for so long against this system, and finally, they are fighting back for their rights and ability to live without fear. Saying “All Lives Matter” is like saying “All Houses Matter” when your house isn’t the one on fire, but the house down the road is burning to the ground. Yes, all houses matter. All lives matter. But your life isn’t the one in danger. Thus, all lives can’t matter until Black Lives Matter.