Cypress Magazine 2021

R I S I N G TO T H E CHALLENGE In response to the outcry over racialised police violence, the Black Lives Matter movement has shifted to the forefront of the world’s attention. In a climate where many adults may have felt discouraged about the prevelence of prejudice, discrimination, and bigotry in all its forms, young people have risen to the challenge by fighting for justice and equality.

Ghazal A-K (G12) has been eager to fight for change since a young age, but her desire intensified when she was introduced to the BLM movement in Grade 10 through the Global Nomads club: “Discussions surrounding the reason for the movement’s inception in 2013 were very eyeopening. Fast-forward to George Floyd’s death seven years later and nothing seems to have changed. I was outraged.”

In the month that followed, Ghazal attended two different peaceful protests, one of which was the Freedom March in downtown Vancouver. The event commemorates the end of slavery in the United States more than 150 years ago and serves as another opportunity to speak up against racism. “At the end, there was a massive celebration of black culture with food, fashion, and music. That’s when I personally felt a switch because I was faced with the reality of how much we are influenced by, consume, and exploit black culture. I saw first-hand the privilege of my skin colour,” shares Ghazal. As part of her commitment to social justice, she partnered with The Bail Project for her birthday this year and requested donations to the initiative instead of gifts. She raised $1000 towards helping provide free bail assistance to innocent activists put in jail following the mass protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

But change won’t happen overnight, nor will it take place without a collective force driving it. This past year has allowed us to recognise the pattern, to accept that systemic racism didn’t start with George Floyd and that religious discrimination didn’t only rear its ugly head with the killing of a Muslim family in Ontario; there were many others who came before. So what can we do to ensure we don’t become disjointed from the cause once the waters settle? For Ghazal, the answer is multifaceted. “Without a doubt, the biggest challenge is maintaining momentum, and everyone will have a different approach to doing so. I think continuing to talk