Black Lives Matter

American  

[blak lahyvz mat-er] / ˈblæk ˈlaɪvz ˈmæt ər /

noun

1. a political and social movement originating among African Americans, emphasizing basic human rights and racial equality for Black people and campaigning against various forms of racism. BLM, B.L.M.

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Etymology

Origin of Black Lives Matter

First recorded in 2013; the slogan that arose from the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenager

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Black Lives Matter

He founded the Black Clergy Collaborative in 2020, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement.

From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026

Melina Abdullah, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter L.A., said this week that her organization has had no contact with Escorcia and didn’t know Palacios’ name until after The Times identified him.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

Gavito pointed to 2020, when the popular support Black Lives Matter movement largely aligned behind the Biden campaign as an example of when standing with a movement can help a campaign.

From Salon ● May 22, 2026

Anti-racism campaigners criticised the move for mocking the Black Lives Matter movement.

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2026

I mean, I know Black Lives Matter is about reminding people our lives count too, but some people take it wrong and think it means we are saying our lives matter more than theirs.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée