Yes, Black Lives Matter! People of Color Lives Matter! People with Diverse Disabilities Lives Matter! And let us not forget about Older Americans living in nursing homes — as it seems, their lives don’t matter!

I can almost hear it now — don’t All Lives Matter? Yes, all lives matter, but right now, the headlines are all about these marginalized groups and the injustice that they face on a day to day basis. 

These headlines are finally revealing to mainstream society that the marginalized group of older seniors, living in nursing facilities, are devalued and treated unjustly. Advocates have been saying this for years. 

Black America has also been saying that systemic racism exists for years – that two justice systems exist, one for white folk and another for black folk. 

How can anyone not see what is happening to black folk and other people of color living in America unless one refuses to open their eyes? 

I personally know that those decision-makers with power and influence refuse to see how people with diverse disabilities are treated unjustly every day.

I also know for many years, advocates have been saying, older seniors are being mistreated, beaten, and dying in nursing homes — that these facilities are havens for discrimination and oppression.

Even now, when headlines are continually showing that Older Americans are dying rapidly in nursing homes due to COVID-19, a haven for the spread of COVID-19, we refuse to admit it.

Even now, when headlines are continually showing that black men and women are wrongly killed, and the justice system treats them unfairly, we turn a blind eye and come up with reasons to justify wrongdoings. 

We refuse to see these things, and as a result, all of these marginalized groups continue to suffer. 

What must happen? What must we do? What must we say? How many killings are enough? How many more deaths of innocent people, including older seniors, must occur? 

It is too easy to argue against Black Lives Matter, People of Color Lives Matter, People with Disabilities Lives Matter, and Older Americans Lives Matter by saying, All Lives Matter! 

I know you want to say, All Lives Matter, but is that what you believe or, better yet, practice? 

By just saying All Lives Matter, we blame-shift, we deflect, rationalize, and justify the mistreatment of many oppressed people. 

The other I thought to myself, it’s beginning to feel like I keep writing about the same things in my blog, but then I realized it’s because the same things keep happening over and over again! 

There is a way out! There is a way forward — it starts with opening our eyes!