More than a teachable moment: Black lives matter

In the aftermath of Mr. George Floyd’s senseless execution on 25 May 2020, in commemoration of and in opposition to countless similar instances of police brutality against unarmed Black Americans, waves of solidarity have pulsed through US streets and now are surging internationally in protests, demonstrations, and vigils. The affirmation that ‘Black Lives Matter’ has likewise been pouring outward in personal as well as official statements. Numerous higher education institutions, scholarly organizations, and academic journals have expressed solidarity and grief, as well as committing to amplify Black voices as one way to help overturn entrenched injustice.Anthropology & Medicine joins the collective outcry in mourning and resolve. We note that the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is not solely about George Floyd. We say their names: Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor – we invoke the names of all individuals whose lives have been taken by racism.