This article explores the reasons behind the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, contrasting the optimism surrounding Barack Obama's election with the continued realities of racial inequality. High expectations for change during Obama's presidency were not met, leading to disillusionment and frustration.
Despite high hopes, particularly among young Black Americans, Obama's administration faced challenges in addressing systemic issues like poverty, unemployment, and police brutality. Initiatives like My Brother's Keeper were deemed insufficient to tackle these deeply rooted problems. The article highlights the lack of significant progress in reducing black unemployment, poverty rates, and police violence during his tenure.
The article cites the lack of presidential action in the cases of Troy Davis and Trayvon Martin as evidence of this failure to adequately address systemic racism.
The article argues that the failure of political institutions to improve the lives of Black Americans led to a loss of legitimacy and spurred the rise of protest movements like Black Lives Matter. The recent highly publicized killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile are cited as catalysts for intensified protests.
The author suggests that while it may be unrealistic to expect a president to achieve comprehensive change in eight years, the article questions the extent to which Obama's election fulfilled its initial promise of change. The intensity of the Black Lives Matter protests during Obama's final days in office serves as a measure of persistent frustration and the need for more substantial action to address systemic racial injustice.