RISING TO THE 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

about race is key because it’s the only way to get comfortable with having those uncomfortable conversations. I’ve already seen improvements in the way we address this issue in my own family, amongst my own peers.”

Ghazal credits Mulgrave for offering an open, safe, and supportive environment where multidimensional topics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, and culture are covered without judgement, in and outside the classroom: “All Mulgravians should join at least one club that deals with DEI, and definitely take part in Ms. McIntyre’s Tuesday Tea Talk! Opportunities like these encourage students to acknowledge and break down any misconceptions, stereotypes, or microaggressions they may unknowingly put forth.”

For Sara S and Caia F (both G9), it was Social Studies that allowed them to explore the BLM movement and make connections closer to home. “Racism exists in the Canadian context, as well, although it may be less obvious. We have a tendency towards passiveness, in the sense that if it does not hit our news as frequently, then it must not be an issue we’re facing. But in reality, racism is an issue that affects everybody,” notes Sara.

In the same way the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag became the most sustained effort to bring attention to the cause of racial justice, the girls’ activism has also found a platform on social media. In September of last year, they created @poc.thrive on Instagram – an account focussed on raising awareness and celebrating all people of colour. It’s a space where they are able to propagate resources and information for others to become educated about the pressing need to strive for positive change. According to Caia, it was the best way to try to create a network of people who may share contrasting opinions, but speak the same social media language and thus can try to learn from one another. Caia states, “Our society is quick to move on to the next thing, so our goal was to support all the accomplishments of the fight this year in a way that was sustainable and permanent. We’ve posted a variety of different things, including a series on missing and murdered Indigenous women, and we are gearing up to feature a few pieces on Asian hate.”

As with any activism, persuading people to listen and engage in respectful dialogue will always be an uphill battle, but the motivation behind it remains crystal clear. While Ghazal, Sara, and Caia have drawn their own conclusions, the underlying message is the same: the younger you are, the better it is to get involved and keep learning. These are big, complex, intersecting issues with no simple solutions, but if we want a just and equitable society, we have to be able to find common ground. This generation of young activists are looking to put their words into action and we are proud to support them.