‘Full Frontal’ Tried To Get Republicans To Say “Black Lives Matter”. It Didn’t Go Very Well.
"I don't know what their purpose is."
It’s been three years since most people heard the words “black lives matter”. After the acquittal of George Zimerman over the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, the words became symbolic of a larger systemic problem with police violence and the treatment of people of colour in the US justice system.
Since then, they’ve spawned a movement. We’ve seen protests, riots, powerful speeches, and historic artistic statements. But the problem is still as prevalent as ever. Distressing visuals of black men being needlessly shot by police have never been too far from our screens, with the latest high-profile violence taking place just last week. Urgent calls to action and spirited debate on the issue is everywhere.
That is, except at the Republican National Convention where apparently no one had any idea what the movement actually was. When Samantha Bee sent a few of her Full Frontal correspondents down to talk about the topic last week, the prevailing responses were hostility and confusion.
“I wouldn’t have a clue [what the movement wants],” one RNC attendee said. “I don’t know what their purpose is,” said another. “I don’t know what they’re saying; I just know there’s a lot of anger there.” Others even went so far as to deem it an “evil organisation” and compared it to the KKK. Most people featured in the segment (which aired last night) refused to even say the words.
No prizes for guessing what they said instead.
Though the clip makes for extremely bizarre and infuriating viewing, it does end on a positive note: there is a fairly large group of people out there who are only being belligerent on the issue because they don’t understand it.
“Most people we talked to did want to understand — at least when faced with an actual black person forcing them to think critically about what they were about to say,” Bee said.
So, you know, good news! Changing a few minds on this thing will only take a whole heap of difficult and emotionally taxing work from people like Full Frontal writer and correspondent Ashley Nicole Black.
“Um, no thanks I did not sign up for this.”
Maybe it’s best they just do some reading up on the topic instead.
Here's a comic from @chainsawsuit that makes a great analogy between #BlackLivesMatter and "all lives matter". pic.twitter.com/FrQMKkLYXW
— Nick Pettit (@nickrp) July 11, 2016