This much-needed reference text places the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement within the broader context of the African American struggle for equality in America, from the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to the violent protests against white supremacy that took place in Charlottesville in 2017. Specific topics include the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012, which gave rise to the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter; the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, which launched the rise of the movement; and the fatal shootings of police officers in Dallas, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2016, which sparked bitter backlash. It also covers the virulent alt-right backlash against BLM and the ways in which BLM leaders are responding to the challenge.

Features of the book include an introduction; seven topical chapters covering the historical background to, origin and growth of, and backlash against the Black Lives Matter movement; and a conclusion. In addition, ten biographical “snapshots” cover key individuals involved with the movement, and eight primary source documents further illuminate issues discussed in the text. Other features include a timeline, an annotated bibliography, and a subject index.

Features

• Provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the origin, growth, and development of the Black Lives Matter movement
• Explores how modern activists employ social media as a force for social change
• Examines the emergence of white supremacy and white nationalism as a part of a cultural backlash against the Black Lives Matter movement
• Presents current information and statistics on racial injustice in America
• Explores how the civil rights movement, Black Power movement, and hip-hop culture have shaped and influenced the fight for racial justice