EXPLORING POLITICAL MEMES & MASHUPS
BLACK LIVES MATTER MEMES
Below is a cluster of “Black Lives Matter” memes that show a variety of takes on what it means to be for or against the campaign. Some memes show the campaign as meaningful while others believe that the campaign is bigger than that and that “All Lives Matter”, but maybe those people don’t understand the campaign, I will leave that interpretation up to you.
Picture on a billboard with a red back ground reads the words: “Black Lives Matter. So let’s quit killing each other.” This Meme is plain and simple. There is a lot of controversy around the “Black Lives Matter” movement. From one stand point someone could see this meme and instantly think that it is just talking about black violence on their own people; however, I feel like maybe it is not just talking about black lives but all lives. Let’s face it violence is violence, it doesn’t matter what your race is, “so let’s quit killing each other” is a powerful statement.
“Has it occurred to anyone that if you’re able to organize this many people for a protest, you can organize this many people to clean up your community and get rid of the criminal element causing the problem.” This meme is a picture of a large group of people. It appears they are holding a rally of some sort. People in the picture are holding various signs in reference to different cases that have affected the black community. I feel like this meme is making a profound statement of what the “Black Lives Matter” movement is trying to overcome. In my opinion that is a social stigma on race. Whether we want to face it or not minorities and race issues still exists. Finding a way to overcome the stigma is essential for our community to flourish.
A cartoon picturing a puzzled, questioned look on the face of a dinosaur, kind of an interesting picture for the topic but the meme states: “If “Black Lives Matter” Why doesn’t anyone protest the 93% of black homicide victims that are murdered by their own race.” Ninety three percent is a huge percentage when you are talking about individual lives. It goes along with the last meme about the true meaning and need of coming together and cleaning up your community and getting rid of the criminal element causing the problem. This however is probably easier said than done.
This meme is pictured with a white back ground and bold black letter and it states: “Yes, ALL LIVES MATTER but we’re focused on the black one right now, ok? Because it is very APPARENT that our Judicial system doesn’t know that. Plus, if you can’t see why we are exclaiming #BLACKLIVES MATTER you are part of the problem.” In support of the Black Lives Matter movement: It clearly says that if you don’t think there is a problem you are part of the problem. According to this statement you fall into one of two categories, “All Lives” or “Black Lives”. There can be a problem without dragging the separating factor in the middle. Finding a common ground may not be easy and if this statement where turned around what would it look like.
This final meme I am sharing about the Black Lives Matter movement in my opinion is kind on the lighter side. It pictures a white officer sitting down on what appears to be milk crates and a black man sitting down in an office chair outside playing a game of chess. The words above it say: “Black Lives Matter Protesters be like” and underneath the photo it says “NYC cop brutally beats black man”. Instead of showing another image of a black man being beaten by cops this picture shows them sitting down and playing chess. I feel like they are trying to be humorous and some might even take offense to the image but I feel like they are still getting their message across quite clearly.