Hearing the some of the leaders at the front of the #BlacklivesMatter speak was empowering, encouraging and left me with a sense of hope for the future. The passion that each of them displayed was both heartening and a reminder of what has kept the movement strong for years.

After hearing about the anti-blackness that pervades our society in the United states and the white supremacy that props it up, I began to think critically about the potential of #blacklivesmatter to continue to grow and how colorism impacts societies outside of the United States as well.

By fighting to defend the fundamental rights of people, remind everyone of the shortcomings of the legal system, and promoting conversation this movement will inevitably lead to improvements for everyone.

Moreover, something that I really appreciate about this movement is the fact that it recognizes intersectionality and the issues that people face are multidimensional. One specific movement in the Civil Rights era that comes to mind is the Chicanx movement. Though it worked to remedy the grievances of Chicanxs, it was patriarchal and exclusive to the point that it was a major shortcoming.

However, #blacklivesmatter works to be inclusive, which is a reflection of an evolving strategy and the realization that there is strength in solidarity.