The Black Lives Matter movement that has swept the world in recent years has shaken the public consciousness with its scale. This phenomenon has not only significant cultural but also social influences in modern society. In particular, the Black Lives Matter movement has become one of the most ambitious public calls for racial justice and equality in recent history. Thus, this phenomenon raises an important humanistic question about the true value of all human lives, regardless of race.
Modern society, as well as direct members of the movement, often appeal to a long history of suppression of Black people by Europeans. However, these events are rather illustrative in nature, which addresses the issues of dehumanization of certain groups of society by the dominant ones. Watson et al. (2020) emphasize the important idea that this process is constructed and not accidental. Thus, the concepts of the Suprematism of the White race were used as a means for the economic exploitation of less privileged groups in society. Europeans suppressed not only Blacks but, for example, Indigenous peoples. These views are utilitarian in nature and are intended to distort the perception of exploited groups in order to maximize benefits.
However, within the framework of modern society, humanistic values come to the fore. Nowadays, when there is no fierce competition for resources, people can focus on the more fundamental aspect of human life. In particular, with the Black Lives Matter movement, people realize that human beings, regardless of race, have equal needs. They also include the need for security, opportunities for spiritual and intellectual development, and full integration into society. White people have enjoyed these values throughout history, while Black people have imposed different views on their own nature. In a modern society characterized by diversity and attention to individual comfort, the realization of equal human needs and rights for all is the basis for future development.
Reference
Watson, M. F., Turner, W. L., & Hines, P. M. (2020). Black Lives Matter: We are in the same storm but we are not in the same boat. Family Process, 59(4), 1362-1373. Web.