Leading means building

The Black Lives Matter movement began as a rallying cry. Created in 2013 by three women of color, BLM is a call to action, a push for honest conversations about racism in this country.

The “leaderful” and decentralized nature of BLM is both its strength and weakness. Local chapters are empowered to respond to conditions on the ground in their communities, but what is clearly missing is a leader who connects the dots and focuses the broader movement on its primary aims.

That BLM has lost the narrative was apparent in Chicago on Aug. 10 when local organizer Ariel Atkins announced at a rally that she doesn’t care “if somebody decides to loot a Gucci’s or a Macy’s or a Nike because ... that makes sure that that person has clothes.” Ms. Atkins defended the looting that took place in the city as reparations. “Anything they want to take, take it,” Ms. Atkins said, “because these businesses have insurance.”

Perception matters greatly. If the movement allows anyone to speak on its behalf, what is preventing the likes of Ms. Atkins from encouraging more crime and violence?

By design, the founders of Black Lives Matter — Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi — wrote themselves out of the story so they would not remain the focus. These smart, resilient, capable women are trained organizers who have built, sustained and funded BLM. That’s why it’s hard to understand why they do not want to lead it.

The civil rights movement was made possible because of the thousands of people who put in work behind the scenes; however, there were leaders out in front, summoning the nation to justice, bringing the conversation back to the true purpose of the movement, which was to see one another in our full humanity.

The work of BLM cannot just be about tearing down, it must be about rebuilding a more just society. The visionary founders of BLM have proved to be capable of expanding our imaginations. Now they need to regain the narrative — and lead.