Actual, Real Live Black People Matter

To be clear, when I say Black lives matter, I'm not talking about the organization.

Or the hashtag.

Or the movement – although I wholeheartedly support it.

I'm saying specifically that actual, real live Black people matter.

I'm saying the lives of my Black friends matter.

I'm saying the lives of my Black colleagues matter.

I'm saying the lives of my Black connections matter.

I'm saying the lives of my Black neighbors and community members matter.

I'm saying the lives of billions of Black people around the world who I don't know and will never meet matter.

I'm saying the lives of Black people who have criminal records matter.

I'm saying the lives of Black people who are drug dealers and addicts matter.

I'm saying the lives of Black people who don't comply with police matter.

I'm saying the lives of all Black people matter.

The individual circumstances, criminal records, histories, socioeconomic status, behaviors, family situations, employment status – none of that changes my belief that Black lives matter.

"If he would've just. . ."

"If he didn't do. . ."

"But what about. . ."

None of it justifies murder.

As long as people justify the murders of Black people, we will need to say Black lives matter.

As long as Black lives don't matter to all of us, all lives don't truly matter.