--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We created #BlackLivesMatter. We created…" description: "\"We created #BlackLivesMatter. We created a platform. We used our social media presence online in order to forward a conversation about what is taking p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/opal-tometi-9098_conversation_we-created-blacklivesmatter-we-created-a_3015259.jpg" --- # We created #BlackLivesMatter. We created a platform. We… ![“We created #BlackLivesMatter. We created a platform. We used our social media presence online in order to forward a conversation about what is taking place in black communities.” quote by Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/opal-tometi-9098_conversation_we-created-blacklivesmatter-we-created-a_3015259.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/opal-tometi-9098_conversation_we-created-blacklivesmatter-we-created-a_3015259.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/opal-tometi-9098_conversation_we-created-blacklivesmatter-we-created-a_3015259.jpg) > “We created #BlackLivesMatter. We created a platform. We used our social media presence online in order to forward a conversation about what is taking place in black communities.” [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. They launched Black Lives Matter as a platform using social media to spark conversation about issues in Black communities. **In simple terms:** Black Lives Matter began online to raise awareness. Key Takeaway Leverage digital tools for social change. Themes activism social media community Mood inspirational urgent Type activism social When to use this quote - digital activism - public discourse - movement building Key Concepts racial justice online mobilization Questions to Reflect On - How to keep the conversation constructive? - What role should offline actions play? A Different Perspective Online platforms can amplify but also dilute messages. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black Communities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-communities-318044/) [Blacklivesmatter Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacklivesmatter-created-4852952/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Created Blacklivesmatter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-blacklivesmatter-4852953/) [Created Platform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-platform-444993/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Social media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-media/) ## Related quotes > [Anti-black racism operates at a society-wide level and colludes in a seamless web of policies, practices, and beliefs to oppress and disempower black communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/anti-black-racism-operates-at-a-society-wide-level-and-colludes-in-a/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [I didn't see spaces where female artists could exist and exhibit their work. So I created a platform for this - one that allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-collins/i-didn-t-see-spaces-where-female-artists-could-exist-and-exhibit/) [Petra Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-collins/) > [My company created a platform called Modlife, this prepackaged website that runs an artist's website.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/my-company-created-a-platform-called-modlife-this-prepackaged-website/) [Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/) > [You can't just repurpose old material created for one platform, throw it up on another one, and then be surprised when everyone yawns in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/you-can-t-just-repurpose-old-material-created-for-one-platform-throw/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [A people who have suffered so much for so long at hands of a racist society must draw the line somewhere… the black communities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/a-people-who-have-suffered-so-much-for-so-long-at-hands-of-a-racist/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [Mass incarceration is a policy that's kind of built up over the last four decades and it's destroyed families and communities, and something we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/mass-incarceration-is-a-policy-that-s-kind-of-built-up-over-the-last/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I suppose our lives need to be more integrated. We have white communities and black communities and white country clubs and black country clubs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-suppose-our-lives-need-to-be-more-integrated-we-have-white/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [Every community has crime and violence; it's a part of being human. This idea that black communities are more violent than others is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/every-community-has-crime-and-violence-it-s-a-part-of-being-human/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Nationwide, 1 in 3 black men can expect to serve time behind bars, but the rates are far higher in segregated and impoverished black communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/nationwide-1-in-3-black-men-can-expect-to-serve-time-behind-bars-but/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [One thing I can say as far as people from black communities dealing with trauma or PTSD is putting some trauma centers or some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polo-g/one-thing-i-can-say-as-far-as-people-from-black-communities-dealing/) [Polo G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polo-g/) > [Especially in black communities, we've been so groomed to stay where we are and not like people in the other neighborhoods. It's crazy. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/especially-in-black-communities-we-ve-been-so-groomed-to-stay-where/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [Black Lives Matter has become what black communities all over the world have needed it to become. At times, it is a hashtag; at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/black-lives-matter-has-become-what-black-communities-all-over-the/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Within church communities, within black communities, and within black church communities, gossip is thy friend. Gossip will be thy friend!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ncuti-gatwa/within-church-communities-within-black-communities-and-within-black/) [Ncuti Gatwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ncuti-gatwa/) > [Racism has its boot squarely wedged on the neck of black communities, and we don't want to be told that hard work and responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/racism-has-its-boot-squarely-wedged-on-the-neck-of-black-communities/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I think in black communities today we need to encourage a lot more cross racial organizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/i-think-in-black-communities-today-we-need-to-encourage-a-lot-more/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) ## More by Opal Tometi > [There are always groups on campus that are doing amazing things. I know when I was in college, I was a student at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/there-are-always-groups-on-campus-that-are-doing-amazing-things-i/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Let's demonstrate, illustrate, the ways in which our communities are being undermined time and time again, and make sure that the broader public and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/let-s-demonstrate-illustrate-the-ways-in-which-our-communities-are/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Being in the immigrant rights space, I've heard a lot of transactional talk with questions like, 'When will black people show up for immigrants?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/being-in-the-immigrant-rights-space-i-ve-heard-a-lot-of-transactional/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Our communities are reeling from poverty, from unemployment, from discrimination of all sorts and different interactions that they're having with the law enforcement, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/our-communities-are-reeling-from-poverty-from-unemployment-from/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Antiblack racism is not only happening in the United States. It's actually happening all across the globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/antiblack-racism-is-not-only-happening-in-the-united-states-it-s/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [I'm really looking for an agenda that looks at safety for our communities beyond policing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/i-m-really-looking-for-an-agenda-that-looks-at-safety-for-our/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [I just look back at my time in college and think about how much my community activism and my work in neighborhoods really informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/i-just-look-back-at-my-time-in-college-and-think-about-how-much-my/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Trump's racism has clearly driven his policy decisions during his first year in office - from his Muslim ban and his despicable treatment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/trump-s-racism-has-clearly-driven-his-policy-decisions-during-his/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [I have two younger brothers, and I know my parents have spoken to them about driving and interacting with police. They didn't have those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/i-have-two-younger-brothers-and-i-know-my-parents-have-spoken-to-them/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Lean into your curiosity about any issue, and there will likely be people to share a little bit more of their knowledge and insight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/lean-into-your-curiosity-about-any-issue-and-there-will-likely-be/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [We can't continue to sit on our hands and sit idly by as people are being brutalized, disenfranchised, and left out of the system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/we-can-t-continue-to-sit-on-our-hands-and-sit-idly-by-as-people-are/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Far from ending, systemic racism reinvents itself to conform to what is publically acceptable, leaving the quality of black life diminished and more permanently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/far-from-ending-systemic-racism-reinvents-itself-to-conform-to-what/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Some of us have held the hands of friends or brothers as they struggled with military and police academy recruiters, and though many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/some-of-us-have-held-the-hands-of-friends-or-brothers-as-they/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [Only when the oppressed are heard can we have an honest solutions based dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/only-when-the-oppressed-are-heard-can-we-have-an-honest-solutions/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [We know that there are people in our nation, black people, who are systematically being disenfranchised in a number of spheres in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/we-know-that-there-are-people-in-our-nation-black-people-who-are/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) [Explore all 75 Opal Tometi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) ## More Conversation quotes > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [“Having to talk to people was the one thing, but soliciting conversation was something else. If I acted squirmy or didn't make eye contact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/having-to-talk-to-people-was-the-one-thing-but-soliciting/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [In recent years my understanding of God had evolved into increasingly remote abstractions. I'd come to think of God in terms like Divine Reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/in-recent-years-my-understanding-of-god-had-evolved-into-increasingly/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. 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I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [Things happen too quickly, crisis follows crisis, the soil of our minds is perpetually disturbed. Each of us, to relieve his feelings, broadcasts his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/things-happen-too-quickly-crisis-follows-crisis-the-soil-of-our-minds/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [Don’t let yourself be. Find something new to try, something to change. 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