Black Lives Matter

An Opinion on Black Lives Matter

Anonymous

Black Lives Matter is not just a slogan. These are three words that have been repeated countless times in the past year. Yet somehow, some still do not understand the true meaning of these words. Black Lives Matter is simply a driving force that helps other people understand, acknowledge, and respect the fact that black lives matter. The slogan is a result of years of racial injustice faced by African Americans all around the country. The new digital age exposed the extent to which black lives are disrespected. How many more videos and news of African American lives dying in the hands of law-enforcement officers are we supposed to watch? I, like many others, know that this topic took a toll on my mental health. I am reminded of the beginning of quarantine when we heard of the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery. I felt like I was mourning their deaths every single day. The month of March and April were burdensome. I would wake up thinking of my family and my friends, thinking what If they were stopped by the police today? Will they make it home? I was on an emotional rollercoaster of what-ifs. These deaths and the deaths of many other innocent African Americans affected me negatively. This is the reason that the slogan Black Lives Matter is more than just a slogan. It represents me, my family, and my friends. I think to myself, “how can others not get it”? It is a simple thing that is requested, to be treated equally. Not better, but equally. Black Lives Matter does not only apply to the justice system. There are disparities in the healthcare and educational systems as well. There is still much work to be done to improve each of these systems. We all have to ask ourselves what we are going to do about this pandemic of racial injustice. I will be a nurse that will advocate for my African American mothers to ensure that they get quality care. What will you do?

An Opinion on January 6th vs. January 20th

Anonymous

January 6, 2021 was a day that I did not expect. In hindsight, being someone who was up to date on national news and was aware that the election results were being confirmed that day, it should have been expected. I remember sitting in my father’s office, watching the news footage of the insurrection and thinking how far we have fallen, and just how foolish we must look to the rest of the world. January 6th was the day I was most embarrassed of my country; but January 20th was one of the days I was the proudest. January 6th was a day of hatred, anger, and misinformation. The people, who attacked the Capitol, were spurred on by false information spouted by the President and spread through social media channels. They were angry, believing that the November election had been “stolen” and they wanted to stop the certification of the electoral votes however they could. These people, primarily white, cared only for themselves and their agenda. In contrast, January 20th was about our nation as a whole. It was about continuing on with the tradition of a peaceful transition of power that had become inherent to our democracy. It was about the first step in a new era, one that filled many with hope and relief. January 20th was also beautifully diverse. The white supremacy shown on January 6th was replaced by the swearing-in to office the first black and south Asian female Vice President, Amanda Gorman; the first National Youth Poet, Laureate, a black woman, shared a moving poem that encouraged us to continue seeking justice as well as be a light in the darkness. While January 20th was not the solution to all our problems, I can’t help, but feel it was a step in the right direction.