Ravens TE Benjamin Watson Proposes ‘Black Lives Matter Too’

Baltimore Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson weighed in Wednesday on the controversy surrounding the phrase “All Lives Matter” as opposed to “Black Lives Matter,” following the recent shootings of Arlon Sterling and Philando Castile in Louisiana and Minnesota.

Ravens TE Benjamin Watson Proposes ‘Black Lives Matter Too’

“Usually ‘All Lives Matter’ comes as a response to ‘Black Lives Matter;’ it doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” Watson told the FOX Business Network’s Stuart Varney. “So when people say ‘Black Lives Matter’ a lot of times the response ‘All Lives Matter’ can seem very condescending, dismissive to ‘Black Lives Matter.'”

Watson also explained why he believes the phrase came about as a reaction to the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

“I think that part of the issue here is when people hear ‘Black Lives Matter’ sometimes they think that someone is saying your life doesn’t matter and that’s not what ‘Black Lives Matter,’ at least to me, is saying.”

He continued, “The reason why ‘Black Lives Matter’ is a chant is because a lot of people feel, myself included, that sometimes they don’t matter.”

The 35-year-old NFL star then suggested an adjustment to the phrase “Black Lives Matter” so as to make the objectives of the movement more clear as well as more inclusive.

“Maybe it should have been ‘Black Lives Matter Too.’ Maybe that would have been more descriptive of what we’re really saying. Because what they’re not saying is that Black lives matter more than anybody else’s lives, it’s more of a ‘hey, these lives matter too.’”

Watson released a book, Under Our Skin: Getting Real About Race–And Getting Free From the Fears and Frustrations That Divide Us, with Tyndale House Publishers. on November 17, 2015.

He also joined The Kelly File with Megyn Kelly on Friday to discuss race, and said young black men come to learn that “life is a little bit different” for them.

“We grow up understanding that you comply with the police, that your leash is a little bit shorter,” he said.

Watson admitted that he’s gotten pulled over and worried that something could happen to him, even though he’s a law-abiding citizen.

However, he called for understanding on both sides, stating that everyone should listen to law enforcement, whom “we need.”

Watson said that his message for everyone, not simply black men, is to obey.

When a police officer asks you to do something, do it,” he said.

He continued: “Our job as citizens is to obey what the police officers say. The police officers’ job is to respect their citizens that they pull over and they are in control of.”

“I think it’s important that we are able to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes,” Watson also said. “And I’ve said before that the heart change comes from repenting of your racism, repenting of your bias, repenting of your prejudice and understanding that God sees us all the same.”

CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 22: Benjamin Watson #82 of the New Orleans Saints during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 22, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)