Though the Mothers of the Movement were featured prominently on the third day of the four-day Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, some noticed that Hillary Clinton made no direct reference to the Black Lives Matter movement in her historic acceptance speech address on the last night of the convention.
However, there were two words that echoed the movement's concerns. They were "systemic racism."
"Two words that have never been in a nomination speech that Hillary did mention tonight: Systemic Racism," tweeted the activist and journalist Shaun King shortly after Clinton was done speaking. King had been a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders during the primary season.
"I think for the next 100 days you will see Hillary Clinton and her campaign move right, instead of left, as she attempts to win white moms and crossover conservatives. In doing so, it's less and less likely that we will ever hear her say the words Black Lives Matter for the rest of this campaign," Shaun King told NBCBLK in a statement.
Clinton has been blunt and vocal on the issue of racism and police brutality during her campaign. But her historic address was a departure from her primary season directness.
"I'm not happy about HRC saying "systemic racism," I'm proud of the activists who hit the streets to make it required for her to say them," tweeted L. Joy Williams, President of the NAACP in Brooklyn, NY.
John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association, based in the key state of Virginia, also spoke with NBCBLK after Clinton's speech. Boyd sounded mostly pleased but he did have a few caveats regarding the lack of a more direct reference to the Black Lives Matter movement.
"I thought I would hear something on that. I think I have a way to go on that part," Boyd said. "We haven't had a sit down on that. I'm eager to hear what her views are on Black farmers," and other African American issues as well Boyd added. Boyd did point out that Bill Clinton was very good on the issue he is most focused on: Black farmers.
"We won our first important settlement when he was President," Boyd told NBCBLK.
"She has a lot of work to do," he concluded. Moving forward with 104 days left to election day, many expect Clinton to run to the right as many candidates have done in recent elections. But others have continued to point out that changing demographics in the U.S. mean that "brown in the new white" in terms of electoral focus.
