Whether we can believe it or not, it has been ten years since #BlackLivesMatter was first used on social media platforms, exclaimed by millions of peaceful protestors, and used as a rallying cry for social justice. From July 2013, Black Lives Matter, the simple, yet powerful message, has become a global movement that is even more relevant today. Let’s not be deterred or discouraged but move forward in unity!

As the nation’s largest Black owned bank, we have supported BLM since 2017 because we believe that social justice and Black economic well-being are intertwined.

While we may think of “Black Lives Matter” as a term of uplift and triumph, it is crucial to remember where the phrase originated.

On July 13, 2013, George Zimmerman, the man who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was found not guilty in court. The ruling caused nationwide outrage, leading to numerous protests and petitions to express the anger and even fear the Black community felt at the time.

Alicia Garza, a domestic worker rights activist in Oakland, California, chose to make her voice heard through a series of Facebook posts titled “A Love Letter to Black People.” Garza is credited with inspiring the slogan when, after the July 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman of murder in the death of Trayvon Martin, she posted on Facebook: “I continue to be surprised at how little Black lives matter… Our lives matter.” Co-Founder of BLM, Patrisse Cullors, then turned the message into a hashtag – #BlackLivesMatter. From there, the movement continued to catch steam, eventually becoming a global rallying cry for justice and reform on behalf of the Black community.

Even after the Black community fought for change, the brutality against Black bodies continued for years until it reached a boiling point in the summer of 2020. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers. This is one of the clearest displays of excessive force that has ever been made available to the public in history. Millions watched the encounter in horror as the policemen on the scene denied Mr. Floyd the rights that we all possess under the law, rights we should all have as human beings, but most importantly, they denied him the right to breathe.

After the footage hit the internet, the public took action like we have never seen before: marching, petitioning, advocating to ensure that Mr. Floyd and all who have lost their lives to police brutality did not lose their lives in vain.

Protests quickly spread nationwide and to over 2,000 cities and towns in over 60 countries in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. All over the world, protesters marched through the streets of their respective cities. Law enforcement attempted to deter them with tear gas, rubber bullets and anything else they could think of, but the people persevered to make one thing abundantly clear: Black Lives Matter!

The three-word phrase was chanted during the protests, written on signs and even written on a two block stretch leading up to the White House in Washington D.C. What started out as a Facebook comment became bigger than Garza, Cullors, and third founder, Ayo Tometi, could have ever imagined.

As the nation’s largest Black owned bank, we are spearheading the #BankBlack movement and have used our resources to support causes that we believe in, including, but not limited to, #BlackLivesMatter.

In fact, in 2017, we partnered with #BlackLivesMatter and created the Amir card, with the goal of encouraging the Black community to focus our spending power on uplifting each other by banking Black, contributing to BLM, and supporting Black-owned businesses all over the world.

With all of us working together as a community, we can continue to uplift ourselves and our peers by supporting Black-owned businesses and Black organizations such as #BlackLivesMatter. To continue to show your support for your community, you can:

Let’s continue to uplift and empower our community on this uphill battle for justice and equality! #BlackLivesMatter