A recent incident at Facebook’s offices has reminded everyone that we are still close minded racists and have made little improvement in terms of acceptance. Mark Zuckerberg has announced in a memo that there have been several occurrences of employees crossing out “black lives matter” on the companies interactive whiteboard.
ALL LIVES MATTER NOT BLACK LIVES
This is apparently what employees at Facebook are trying to convey. The whiteboard at Facebook, seemingly there to promote some kind of community feel, has (not surprisingly) been a vessel to spread hate. Give people the chance to speak out while remaining anonymous and one can only expect some controversial results. In this case, the popular “black lives matter” slogan has been defaced. Not once, but numerous times, according to Zuckerberg. A popular replacement has been “all lives matter”. Perhaps an attempt to express equality for all, but seeing as it came from an environment that is hardly equal, the effect doesn’t really work.
FACEBOOK HIRES WHITES AND ASIANS
If Facebook had a diverse workplace, this wouldn’t be as big of an issue. However, that is far from the case. Only two percent of the staff there is black. White’s make up Fifty-five percent of the organization with Asians at thirty-six percent. Hardly a diverse medley to say the least. Zuckerberg, of course, has expressed his concern over the matter, but it’s difficult to take his words seriously when the very company he runs is so plain.
AMERICA STILL HAS WORK TO DO
The Black Lives Matter movement has been a constant reminder to America that we are not where we should be in terms of race relations. It’s easy to think we have come so far, and it a way we have, but the fact is that equality is non-existent. Zuckerberg was outraged, and rightfully so. As Facebook CEO, he doesn’t really have a choice but to make a statement regarding the situation, but he expressed concern. Saying black lives matter doesn’t mean that all other races aren’t important. ‘Black lives matter’ is just a reminder that the black community deserves justice. They have faced a tumultuous past in America, more so than any other race. Yes, it’s gotten better since the civil rights movement, but we’re not there yet. Black lives matter is a testament to that.
