The Black Lives Matter Movement is guided by the following principles. We seek to expand student understanding of these principles through the week of action.
1. Restorative & Transformative Justice
As we forge our path, we intentionally build and sustain an environment where we can make mistakes, grow, and express the fullness of our humanity. We nurture and promote a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle. We are dedicated to restoring and transforming ourselves and the world around us to dismantle punitive systems and build more healing in its place.
2. Disability Justice
We are committed to acknowledging and addressing how we further societies’ othering of people with disabilities. We co-create spaces in which ableism is confronted and embed the ten principles of disability justice advocates into our work. We actively dream and collaborate to create.
3. Loving Engagement
We remain rooted in compassion and empathy by seeking understanding and engaging with the intent to learn about and connect with others' contexts. Our interactions are guided by a commitment to embody justice, peace, and liberation.
4. Diversity
We recognize, accept, and celebrate the unique qualities that make us different and the shared perspectives, circumstances, and commonalities that connect us.
5. Globalism
We see ourselves as part of the global Black family and we are aware of the different ways we are impacted or privileged as Black folk who exist in different parts of the world.
6. Queer Affirming
We are committed to fostering a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual unless s/he or they disclose otherwise.
7. Trans Affirming
We are committed to embracing and making space for trans siblings to participate and lead. We are committed to being self-reflexive and doing the work required to dismantle cis-gender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence.
8. Collective Value
We are guided by the fact all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status or location.
9. Intergenerational
We are committed to fostering an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism. We believe that all people, regardless of age, show up with capacity to lead and learn.
10. Black Villages
We support each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another, especially “our” children. We make our spaces family-friendly and enable caregivers to fully participate with their children. We disrupt the narrow Western prescribed nuclear family structure expectation. We recognize that family includes our chosen families. We believe that radical care belongs in the public sphere.
11. Unapologetically Black
We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position. To love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a necessary prerequisite for wanting the same for others.
12. Black Women
We are committed to building a Black women affirming space free from sexism, misogyny, and male‐centeredness.
As we forge our path, we intentionally build and sustain an environment where we can make mistakes, grow, and express the fullness of our humanity. We nurture and promote a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle. We are dedicated to restoring and transforming ourselves and the world around us to dismantle punitive systems and build more healing in its place.
2. Disability Justice
We are committed to acknowledging and addressing how we further societies’ othering of people with disabilities. We co-create spaces in which ableism is confronted and embed the ten principles of disability justice advocates into our work. We actively dream and collaborate to create.
3. Loving Engagement
We remain rooted in compassion and empathy by seeking understanding and engaging with the intent to learn about and connect with others' contexts. Our interactions are guided by a commitment to embody justice, peace, and liberation.
4. Diversity
We recognize, accept, and celebrate the unique qualities that make us different and the shared perspectives, circumstances, and commonalities that connect us.
5. Globalism
We see ourselves as part of the global Black family and we are aware of the different ways we are impacted or privileged as Black folk who exist in different parts of the world.
6. Queer Affirming
We are committed to fostering a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual unless s/he or they disclose otherwise.
7. Trans Affirming
We are committed to embracing and making space for trans siblings to participate and lead. We are committed to being self-reflexive and doing the work required to dismantle cis-gender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence.
8. Collective Value
We are guided by the fact all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status or location.
9. Intergenerational
We are committed to fostering an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism. We believe that all people, regardless of age, show up with capacity to lead and learn.
10. Black Villages
We support each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another, especially “our” children. We make our spaces family-friendly and enable caregivers to fully participate with their children. We disrupt the narrow Western prescribed nuclear family structure expectation. We recognize that family includes our chosen families. We believe that radical care belongs in the public sphere.
11. Unapologetically Black
We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position. To love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a necessary prerequisite for wanting the same for others.
12. Black Women
We are committed to building a Black women affirming space free from sexism, misogyny, and male‐centeredness.