When I was eight I was baptized. Catholic values were a deep part of my understanding of the world. Later, as I studied philosophy I realized it is difficult to create a consistent moral philosophy that doesn’t treat all lives equally. Still further in my studies, particularly with modern history courses, that these philosophies never mapped into the real world consistently.
Across the country and the world there has been a sudden, simultaneous uprising of solidarity for the value of black lives to a degree that is unique in world history. #BlackLivesMatter once again dominates the twitter sphere. To many’s dismay, #AllLivesMatter is being voiced in response. Is this moral relativism or something else?
Context is key. Ignoring this is what allows people to disrespectfully respond to #BlackLivesMatter with #AllLivesMatter. The context in this case four hundred years of oppression - one race enslaving another. The context in this case is the immediate reality of police brutality - the disproportionate incarceration - the vast socioeconomic disparity. The context is the very health, wealth and life span of the black community in the US compared other ethnicities.
There can be no doubt that great strides have been made through past civil rights efforts. But systemic racism is very much a part of black lives. It can manifest in surprising ways and run deeply into every fabric of our social structures. It is tenacious as it is old (it predates the country). Many authors have done excellent jobs tracing its roots and surfacing the form is takes in today’s lives. If you had not yet had the opportunity, I would recommend reading The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.
This is not moral relativism. Quite the opposite, absolute moralism is often so incongruous with a real world conditions that adhering to such a paradigm will lead to total paralysis or obviously immoral actions. Any student of ethics learns, very quickly, that one cannot enjoy the luxury of total moral consistency. We must take action all the same. We are acting.
As of this writing, thousands have stepped out to demonstrate. Protests across hundreds of cities, in every state in the US and across dozens of countries around the world. Global solidarity, at this is scale, is a unique moment in history. Let’s be clear - this is the right side of history to be on. Injustice has been identified and millions of voices are standing behind the cause.
Living a life where all lives matter is often in the realm of yogis, saints and Buddhist monks. We are unlikely to treat the lives of strangers on an equal level with our family. We are unlikely to value other lives over our own. To aspire to do so is noble and excellent and likely the right way to raise future generations. But we face the grim reality that we and our ancestors have not lived up to this lofty standard. Remediation is necessary if we want ‘all lives matter’ to be more than a hollow platitude. And when the lives of Black Americans are treated with respect and equality they deserve, then we will discover more lives that matter too.