Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter

This history follows the origins and growth of the Black Lives Matter movement. It begins with Alicia Garza’s Facebook post, which became a viral hashtag and a way to organize community action; Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi joined her, and the three are identified as the movement’s founders. The account places Black Lives Matter alongside earlier civil-rights protest movements and explains systemic racism. It also explores community chapters established after police killings of Black boys and men, as well as protest’s music, art, and organizers. Historical and contemporary photographs, a timeline, and a playlist accompany the text.