A young woman posted a video on Twitter of a man going on an angry tirade at his neighbor's house about the "Black Lives Matter" message on her car's back windshield.
Twitter user "johnnie" (@janaisevilla) is a young woman from the Santa Clarita Valley area near Los Angeles. She was visiting a friend's home when their neighbor—a middle-aged man—came over and began yelling at them about the Black Lives Matter message on johnnie's car.
You can see the video below:
*NSFW Warning: Both the tweet and video contain profanity
EVERYONE I HAD BLACK LIVES MATTER WRITTEN ON MY BACK WINDSHIELD. THIS MAN CAME TO THE HOUSE AND PROCEEDED SO SCREAM ALL OF THIS RACIST SHIT. IM FUCKING TERRIFIED. WAY TO GO SCV. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/eWOKgKhgpq
— johnnie (@janaisevilla) June 4, 2020
In the video, the man can be heard insisting the Black Lives Matter message is "offensive," racist and "All lives matter."
The man then begins questioning the homeowners—who are Japanese—about their knowledge of Japanese and Jewish history.
"You're Japanese! Do you know your history? Do you know your Japanese history? I'm a Jew! I'm a Jew! Do you know my history?"
Keeping her cool, the woman he is yelling at gives him a very simple response.
"If all lives matter then Black lives matter as well. That is not saying just Black lives, it's saying all lives matter, including Black lives."
The video highlights the most widespread misunderstanding about the Black Lives Matter movement.
As Alicia Garza, who co-founded the movement with Patrice Cullors and Opal Tometi, explained in 2014:
"When we say Black Lives Matter, we are talking about the ways in which Black people are deprived of our basic human rights and dignity... And the fact is that the lives of Black people—not ALL people—exist within these conditions..."
Garza goes on to explain that Black liberation is essential to all people's liberation.
"Black Lives Matter doesn't mean your life isn't important – it means that Black lives, which are seen as without value within White supremacy, are important to your liberation.
"...when Black people in this country get free, the benefits will be wide-reaching and transformative for society as a whole. When we are able to end the hyper-criminalization and sexualization of Black people and end the poverty, control and surveillance of Black people, every single person in this world has a better shot at getting and staying free."
"When Black people get free, everybody gets free."
It is acknowledging—as this video humorously explains—that while all lives matter, all lives don't face the same dangers and challenges.
On Twitter, people responded to johnnie's video by echoing these same concepts.
People need to realize that when we say #BlackLivesMatter. We are NOT denying that #AllLivesMatter. We truly want equality for all. We do not want segregation anymore. We do not want atrocities like genocide or police brutality anymore. We are one race, the human race.
— Sh4dowfox007 (@Sh4dowfox007) June 4, 2020
My fellow Jewish people WE CAN NOT COMPARE OURSELVES TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY
Yes we suffer discrimination and we were oppressed in the past BUT I do not know what it's like being black in America And if YOU ARE NOT BLACK NEITHER DO YOU
JUST STEP BACK & EDUCATE YOURSELF & LISTEN
— Empress Sheila in Quarantine ✨ (@SheilaCuriel) June 4, 2020
pic.twitter.com/ws7RsTNgUs
— December 31st (@Happz_brandnew) June 4, 2020
I'm a Jew and yet I believe that black lives matter.. he is not doing our people proud
— chloe (@chloekoslowski) June 4, 2020
how oh how do people not get this very simple concept
— gabbie hanna (@GabbieHanna) June 4, 2020
While others were angered by the man's approach and viewpoint.
this man is mad that black lives matter
— mani ☼ ☽ (@melanatedmomma) June 5, 2020
On her property.
— _SimplyKaliyah (@_simplykaliyah) June 4, 2020
Ain't nobody talking to me like that on MY doorstep pic.twitter.com/YAIckBzwdb
— But what he really meant was 😏 (@CainsDarwin) June 4, 2020
Others were impressed that everyone else kept their cool, but stood their ground.
That guy sounds like the one who is terrified. Props to your friend for keeping it real and standing her ground.
— Angry Asian Man (@angryasianman) June 5, 2020
Stand your ground pic.twitter.com/BI9K3iTGVt
— Bash 🧜🏽♂️ (@setrocs929) June 4, 2020
Including the dog in the background.
The way the dog is SPEAKING UP! I hear you my dawg. 🐶 pic.twitter.com/UfbSsaY7ot
— DE'RON🤎 (@deronworld) June 4, 2020
As protests continue, now may be a good time for everyone to examine their perceptions—and possible misconceptions—on a lot of topics.