Making Black Lives Matter in Our School

On May 28th, a 46-year-old black man named George Floyd was killed by a police officer for being suspected of using counterfeit money. This event was caught on camera and the world viewed the cruel treatment of Floyd by the police officers, whose job was to protect and serve the citizens of Minneapolis.

After Floyd's and other incidents of racist crimes were brought to light in the United States and regions across the globe, protests took place to raise awareness of the discrimination against black people and to find a solution to this problem. All over the world, millions of people are protesting for the end of systemic racism and police brutality against the black community.

Source: The Star

Anti-black racism has been a prevalent issue in our society for over three centuries. Black people are often not given the same advantages as other ethnicities in terms of issues like unfair wages and harassment.

Many took to social media to discuss anti-black racism using the hashtag “BlackLivesMatter”. There have been donation websites made to raise money for the lives taken away by police brutality and racism including the George Floyd Memorial Fund and the official Black Lives Movement website.

In Canada, many have taken to the streets to protest against anti-black racism. Canadian officers even kneeled with the protestors to apologize and to show their dedication towards protecting the citizens of their country.

As students living in Canada, a vast number of opportunities are provided for us to voice our concerns on issues that we care about. Bringing awareness to anti-racism in Canada against black people and minorities is something students have the capability of doing. Whether you speak up against racial slurs and discrimination in our school environment or donate a small sum for lives that have been uprooted by racism, you are making a real difference. Social media is a huge platform where students can be vigilant against acts of anti-black racism and can bring attention to these issues by conversing with teachers, parents, guardians, and peers. Through small gestures, students can shape future generations in the hopes of ending racism. #BlackLivesMatter

By Tresha Sivanesanathan