Ain't a fan of the phrase "BLACK LIVES MATTER" ...at all. Hell, "ALL Lives" matter goes without saying. 

'Appreciate that folks are paying attention to stuff that needs attention paid... but damn--that is one sorry-ass slogan. 

'Suspect part of the reason it works is because it has just enough condescension to keep an underlying cushion of superiority in the mix....for some.  The less "truly" enlightened.  

The awkward phrase can, has--and I predict--WILL come back to bite Black Americans in the ass.

Not sure about you--but I am not interested in some of the well-meaning(sometimes) curious folks easin' up to me with pity in eyes and manner--for another conversation about "my" plight.  My generation is infected with them. If the shit is about "real" change--we're ALL in it.  And, frankly, I'm too busy trying to pay the rent to tend their inadvertent indulgences..

And for poor folk and others who are NOT Black? For more than is reported--a lot of 'em feel resentful.  Irritated.  Left out.  Short-changed. 

Why?--because the phrase is, by wording, excluding...even if the worst cops DO do their worst evil deeds to Black Americans.  Poor Whites, Latin Folks, Asians--and a whole BUNCH of other Americans--are having their own brand of problems with the worst racist assholes in America.  And truth be told, many of the victimized today, practice their own brand of ugly racism towards others in TONS of instances, tomorrow.  

The cause can be better articulated.  By far.

Then again, I'm mainly speaking about the "older" generation; the one dying off with me.  A pretty good chunk of the young folks seem to have a whole new deal workin'.  I hope so.  We failed.  Hopefully, they will not.

Older white liberals love shit like "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD".  I refused to teach the book to a racially-diverse class in juvenile lockup.  The young folks appreciated it.  And the head of the school thanked me and said she would not be teaching that book as a "featured" part of main course, henceforth. I substituted FREDERICK DOUGLASS.  Non-fiction--and devoid of the usual inherently debasing "assumption portrayals"--and savior-hero prototypes. 

Truth be told--there are many young folks who seem to finally want an end to the bullshit.  "Black Lives Matter", per an old fella who's been "around" way of thinkin'-- may eventually get in the way. "OVERCOME THE ASSHOLES"  or "OVERWHELM THE ASSHOLES"(on "my" protest signs)... or, simply "WE INSIST", "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH", WE DEMAND A BETTER WORLD", "MAKE AMERICA, AMERICA".

Here's one that will get my butt in trouble with a BUNCH of folks--but it is what I believe--because I have experienced both:  "There's NOTHING better than a good cop.  And there is NOTHING WORSE than a bad one."  

The task as I see it?  Make it IMPOSSIBLE for a bad "wanna be" cop to get a badge and a gun. And do all that we can to find, recruit, support, respect, and appreciate the damn good ones.   

... I KNOW some folks out there have some doggone good ideas! Let's hear 'em.

JUNETEENTH?(what the hell is there to celebrate?!):  JUNETEENTH makes absolutely no sense to me.  Sooo, Negroes are celebratin' what?  Bein' freed from some criminal bullshit never shouldda been captive to in the first damn place?  I can see celebratin' (as I DO on December 12, yearly)--"ANCESTORS DAY"--

...but all this mass-media simpatico?  'Delivered on platter with an underlying  ton of fat brain-washing, media fed "normalcy"?

I understand Negroes lookin' for every opportunity to have a good time, but damn!  Over bein' let loose and escaping some historically self-legalized criminal assholes kidnapping, beating, raping and on and on--other folks?  Ain't nothin' to celebrate.  Think about it.

'Self-respecting/aware humans give no credence to criminal-evil wrong-doin. Done to them--by others.  It's nuts.

Let THEM celebrate becoming human--if they want.  But Juneteenth?  A bad joke.  Not good for young minds, psyches, self worth, growth, true self-determination, etc.  Stop it, already.  

For 'Negroes born and raised to KNOW they are as solid and capable as anyone else--no need for all this "our lives matter, too" bullshit--it's weak.  Work needs to be done, yes.  But not from being down on one knee, looking up. There have been many rallying phrases far more respectfully powerful:  NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, being one... or, simply--ENOUGH IS ENOUGH (gives ALL a hand in pursuit of their common "humanness")--

Hell, enlist the young folks to come up with something that captures THEIR time--all races and such--to capture THEIR determination to live better human lives--period.

Does this mean that the Truth of the affects of slavery and systemic schemed exclusion, etc.  should not be addressed?  No, not at all.  But done with honor, mutual respect and genuine pursuit of "understanding" by the best from all sides.

Reparations?  Yeah, lotta work done for nothing for kidnapper-rapist-systemically empowered  depraved pirate-gangsters; continued/continues for centuries.

Okay, a lot of humans all over the world were doing similar/same throughout history. But this is "America".  An experiment/promise like no other. And if we want make it "GREAT"--for real?  Finally?  Let's GET REAL. 

NEGROES celebrating  Juneteenth?  Strikes me as being a bit like--that Stockholm Syndrome shit(look it up).