Hooper Markert

Title

Hooper Markert (Abstract)

Interviewee/ Narrator

Hooper Markert

Hooper Markert

Interviewer

Naeem Mangum

Date

November 28, 2023

Location of the Interview

Zoom

Length

46 minutes, 33 seconds

Abstract

The interviewee, Hooper Markert, is a college student at Columbia University who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. In the interview, Markert discusses his perspective on the Black Lives Matter movement formed through his southern upbringing and current northern urban life. Markert first actively encountered Black Lives Matter after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, though the concepts have long shaped his outlook given Birmingham's deep-rooted civil rights history. He views the Black Lives Matter movement as an extension of the civil rights movement, bringing forth the real state of race relations in the US. However, Markert notes the movement's politicization as a failure, believing true progress requires shared humanity rather than partisan divides. Throughout the discussion, Markert references his membership in the Baha'i faith, which promotes the essential oneness of humankind, as well as the exposure he's gained to diverse cultures in the extremely diverse New York City. He also details his involvement with an after-school program for low-income minority students that builds academic skills and spiritual capacities alike. Additional key details include the tense Black Lives Matter protests and counter-protests Markert witnessed in Birmingham, his perception that Gen Z has been most influenced by Black Lives Matter concepts, and his reflections on social media's mental health effects. Ultimately, Markert hopes Black Lives Matter evolves to sustain education and policy changes rather than media spotlight or branding. The interview offers one student's outlook on Black Lives Matter as both a societal reckoning and political flashpoint.