Stop blaming the slogan and look for equity

If most Americans went to a country where women were being gang-raped in the streets with no one being held accountable, and they saw protests with signs that said "Women's Lives Matter", they would know it doesn't mean men's lives don't matter! It means "Women's Lives Should Not Be Thrown Away and Women Deserve Equal Justice Under The Law."

From what I see, "Black Lives Matter" is simply saying the same thing, in a country where maltreatment of African Americans has been our public and private shame for centuries.

Stop blaming the slogan, and start looking at ways to reduce subtle and overt abuses of power in law enforcement and other institutions. Start looking at ways to reduce violence and increase respect in marginalized communities.

Until there is true equity in American society, resentments and revenge will unfortunately and inevitably find fertile soil in America.

This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 9:15 AM with the headline "Stop blaming the slogan and look for equity."