"Black lives" signify more than mere existence; they embody a profound narrative interwoven with resilience, ancestral echoes, and an elemental call for justice and recognition in a world fraught with systemic inequities. For Bayo Akomolafe, this term reverberates with a lifeworld of rich cosmologies and unacknowledged histories, counteracting the monolithic, oppressive gazes that attempt to define Blackness solely through the lens of suffering and marginalization. It is a profound affirmation of the vibrancy, complexity, and inherent worth of Black individuals, interconnected with broader ecosystems and communal spirits. By invoking "Black lives," we are urged to reckon with the entangled, relational nature of existence and to cultivate spaces where Black voices and experiences are not only heard but fundamentally valued as indispensable threads in the tapestry of humanity.

See also: black bodies, slave trade, racial justice, police brutality, white ally