Question

In building multiracial coalitions of solidarity, there are often flashpoints that magnify how oppression operates differently for different ethnoracial groups. When young Muslims used the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter, there was a backlash from proponents of Black Lives Matter. What was the reason for the backlash?

1) The proponents of Black Lives Matter felt that the use of the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter undermined their own movement.
2) The proponents of Black Lives Matter believed that the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter was unnecessary and distracted from their cause.
3) The proponents of Black Lives Matter disagreed with the message behind the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter.
4) The proponents of Black Lives Matter felt that the use of the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter was appropriating their movement.

Answer 1

The backlash from Black Lives Matter proponents regarding #MuslimLivesMatter was due to concerns of appropriating the BLM movement and diluting its specific focus on anti-black racism and state violence against Black communities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason for the backlash against the use of the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter by proponents of the Black Lives Matter movement is that they felt that this use was appropriating their movement. They believed the specific phrase Black Lives Matter was created to address anti-black racism and the violence inflicted on Black communities by the state, focusing on the unique experiences of Black individuals regarding state and systemic violence. The concern from some within the Black Lives Matter movement was that by using a variant of the hashtag, it could dilute the focus and specificity of the issues raised under the BLM banner and potentially redirect attention and support away from the anti-black racism narrative.