While no one should have to justify why their life matters, the repeated narrative of unarmed black Americans being killed by police officers and vigilantes sends a sad message that African-American lives are not valued in this country.
So The Huffington Post Black Voices reached out to the community on social media to promote respect for all life and highlight declarations of the countless, wonderful and irrefutable reasons why black lives matter:
Here's what our community had to say:
#myblacklifemattersbecause all black life matters!
— Broderick (@BroderickGreer) August 14, 2014
#myblacklifemattersbecause I hold the potential for compassionate social transformation in my being.
— Broderick (@BroderickGreer) August 14, 2014
#myblacklifemattersbecause I'm one of the "Good Ones" @blackvoices
— Black Donald Trump (@ROKKnation) August 14, 2014
#myblacklifemattersbecause I am human. I have rights. I choose to inspire & make a difference in the world.
— Alexandria Williams (@alexandriawill) August 14, 2014
#myblacklifemattersbecause because it is equal to everyone elses under the law. No questions needed...
— Jacques Morel (@JacquesMorels) August 14, 2014
@blackvoices @HuffPostTravel #myblacklifemattersbecause My Kids!
— YES Jan Birney (@JanBirney) August 14, 2014
@blackvoices #myblacklifemattersbecause I'm still working on dreams that may benefit others as well as myself.
— FaveRTs.com ⭐️ (@HiDefLowCost) August 14, 2014
As pale as they come but I support #myblacklifemattersbecause For our communities. For our youth. For our future. It's 2014. Enough.
— Sarah Aiken (@emeraldcitysara) August 14, 2014
I am someone's child. #myblacklifemattersbecause
— Such as Life© (@CoCoButterSmoov) August 14, 2014
#myblacklifemattersbecause I know I have a place in society.
— Such as Life© (@CoCoButterSmoov) August 14, 2014
@blackvoices #myblacklifemattersbecause-Loving parents & a benevolent God brought me into this world 2 live a full, productive & happy life.
— Newchoicesnow (@Newchoicesnow) August 14, 2014
#myblacklifemattersbecause I was created with a purpose.
— Such as Life© (@CoCoButterSmoov) August 14, 2014
#myblacklifemattersbecause people have fought too long and hard for me to be treated like I am not enough
— Jacques Morel (@JacquesMorels) August 14, 2014
HuffPost Readers: We want to know what being black in America today means to you*. You can email us with your story at openreporting@huffingtonpost.com, or call 860-348-3376 to leave us your story in a voicemail.
Before You Go
