Replacing Market House 'Black Lives Matter' slogan won't erase racism. We need justice. | Letters

Do all lives really matter?

In his recent opinion piece, Mr. Archie Barringer seems to suggest that by replacing the words, “Black Lives Do Matter” with “All Lives Matter” at the Market House, the issues of racism could be erased.

I would suggest that looking at some facts would suggest that some lives matter more than others, and until that is rectified, systemic racism is alive and well in this country.

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Many indicators would indicate that Black Lives Matter less than whites. Poverty, maternal and infant deaths, are twice as high for Black people, while household income for whites is twice as high. Homeownership, which is a clear indicator of the ability to increase wealth, is 44% for Blacks and 73% for whites. I could go on.

Mr. Barringer refers to Hitler and his attempt to purify race through genocide. On this continent, more than 10 million Africans were captured as slaves. Before Europeans took control, there were more than 5 million native Americans.

Mr. Barringer also makes reference to Martin Luther King’s dream of equality, yet the facts would tell us we have a long way to go for reconciliation. Until there is true “ liberty and justice “ for all, our pledge of allegiance only rings true for some of us.

Anne Smiley, Fayetteville

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Removing Black Lives Matter slogan in Fayetteville is a bad idea