2. #BlueLivesMatter Vs. #BlackLivesMatter

3. #BlackLivesMatter
1. What does the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter explicitly mean and what does it implicitly mean? Look at the denotation and connotation of each word. 2. What is the subtext behind this hashtag? 3. How do you, individually, react to this hashtag? Why? How might others – in your school, in your community, and in the larger world – react to this hashtag and why? 4. Using your answers from #1-#3, how does the hashtag play upon our emotions, prejudices, and rational thoughts? In what ways and to what effect? 5. Using your answers from #1-#4, come to a conclusive answer about how language being used and to what effect in this hashtag. Turn this answer into a strong and concise claim or argument.

4. #AllLivesMatter
1. What does the hashtag #AllLivesMatter explicitly mean and what does it implicitly mean? Look at the denotation and connotation of each word. 2. What is the subtext behind #AllLivesMatter? 3. How is #AllLivesMatter a response to #BlackLivesMatter? 4. “All” versus “Black” is the only difference between the two hashtags and yet they are very, very different in what they want to convey. How so? 5. How do you, individually, react to this hashtag? Why? How might others – in your school, in your community, and in the larger world – react to this hashtag and why? 6. Using your answers from #1-#5, how does the hashtag play upon our emotions, prejudices, and rational thoughts? In what ways and to what effect? 7. Using your answers from #1-#6, come to a conclusive answer about how language being used and to what effect in the #AllLivesMatter hashtag. Turn this answer into a strong and concise claim or argument.

5. #BlueLivesMatter
1. What does the hashtag #BlueLivesMatter explicitly mean and what does it implicitly mean? Look at the denotation and connotation of each word. What does “Blue” stand for in this context? 2. What is the subtext behind #BlueLivesMatter? 3. How is #BlueLivesMatter a response to #BlackLivesMatter? 4. “Blue” versus “Black” is the only difference between the two hashtags and yet they are very, very different in what they want to convey. How so? 5. How do you, individually, react to this hashtag? Why? How might others – in your school, in your community, and in the larger world – react to this hashtag and why? 6. Using your answers from #1-#5, how does the hashtag play upon our emotions, prejudices, and rational thoughts? In what ways and to what effect? 7. Using your answers from #1-#6, come to a conclusive answer about how language being used and to what effect in the #AllLivesMatter hashtag. Turn this answer into a strong and concise claim or argument. 8. Can words on Twitter – and hashtags in particular – lead people to commit acts of violence?

6. 1. What are Garza’s various claims or arguments in this blog post. 2
1. What are Garza’s various claims or arguments in this blog post? 2. What evidence does she provide to support her claims? 3. Do you agree with Garza’s claim(s) in the last paragraph of the blog?Why or why not? 4. What counterclaims could be made to Garza? 5. So, do #AllLivesMatter or do #BlackLivesMatter?Discuss as a whole class.

7. Discussion Questions 1. What hashtag has the most social impact and why? 2. Are some lives more important than other lives? Why or why not? And how do the individual words in the hashtags imply this or not? Debate Questions 3. This house believes that #AllLivesMatter is more inclusive and accepting of the lives of others. 4. This house believes the #AllLivesMatter hashtag diminishes the systematic racism and oppression Blacks experience in the United States.