Opinion: The BLM Movement in Rural America

Emma Moore

BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN—Protests, calls for equality, and outrage have ravaged the United States these past few months due to another killing of a black man, George Floyd. The United States, the so-called “Greatest Country in the World” has people being killed because of the color of their skin by the people who are supposed to protect us. While George Floyd’s death sparked anger and outrage, it sadly was another in a string of black people being killed by the police. Out of these disgusting acts of violence came a powerful movement calling for equality and an end to police brutality. 

Every corner and part of the United States has seen some part of the BLM movement in different ways, even in rural areas. In Michigan, where a large percent of the population lives in just three counties, the majority of the state is disconnected from the few urban centers. I live in a smaller middle class lake town with a nearly all-white population. My high school’s class of 100 kids is almost 100% white. We don’t ever see the problems that black people face. Honestly, I have been sheltered from reality and didn’t know how bad racism still was. 

At 2:35 every afternoon, trucks with MAGA and Trump 2020 flags and stickers zoom out of the parking lot. In my small and somewhat conservative town with almost no people of color, the BLM movement has been a unique experience. 

As this revolution has creeped into my town, I have noticed a growing divergence of the political views of my peers. While some of my classmates and the younger adults in the area have stood up on their instagram stories or even attended protests, many people simply posted a black square for Instagram’s Blackout Tuesday and then went silent about the problems we are facing. Some of the other conservative kids and adults have condemned others for standing up against racism and claimed we are only spreading “violence.” Violence!? How is standing up against police brutality and racism spreading violence? I have seen ignorant people in my community say the BLM movement is making a problem out of nothing. People of color dying in the hands of the police and facing constant discrimination seems like a pretty big problem to me. 

One of my friends told me she said nothing because she didn’t want to do anything “controversial.” At this point in society, saying nothing sends the signal that you don’t care about creating equality. Sometimes as a white person, I even don’t know what exactly to say to help, but at least one can show your support towards the BLM movement. 

I have noticed how much of a divide has emerged in my community between groups of people, as well. In my town, the young and more liberal population have shown more of a care towards the issues our country is facing. As I venture onto Facebook, I see some adults I know being vocal in a different way: instead of condemning police brutality and racism, they seem to care solely about riots and looting, which is separate from the BLM movement. Every day, thousands of protesters with peaceful intentions take to the streets, which is what the conservative adults in my town have acknowledged. I have overwhelmingly found that the same people who refuse to protest police brutality are the same protested about their favorite bar not being open.  

Another thing that has created division in my community is the concept of “All Lives Matter.” Despite the amount of videos and educational sources that have been floating around, I have seen numerous people supporting “All Lives Matter.” Some people have seemed to only listen to what they want to hear and still don’t understand that right now All Lives Don’t Matter. I saw one of my family members comment on a video of a celebrity talking about why All Lives Matter is incorrect. They said they understood what he was saying but then went and said “All Lives Do Matter,” because we all have equal opportunities and hardships. Obviously, if they had listened to the video, they would know that of course we all have hardships but how can all lives matter when certain people are killed because of the color of their skin. I saw a BLM protest across the globe on the news; it’s safe to say other countries care more about the American response to these issues than the White House. 

We might not come from the same political backgrounds, but when people of color are being systemically oppressed, I would hope Americans could come together. This should not be a political issue, this is about something as simple as equality. This is a societal issue created by corrupt systems and generations of blatant racism. 

Now, we have an opportunity to create change. I have hope in my generation; we are not waiting for this outrage to go away. We are going to do something about it and stand up, even in my all-white high school. As President Trump encourages the use of the military on his own people to stand in front of a church for a photo op, we demand change.