So, what now?

These past couple of days have been emotionally and mentally exhausting. I am not going to lie I am not going to win the best parent of the week award not to say I was neglecting my kids just because of the mental exhaustion I was feeling. That week was a reminder that I can be friendly to people funny but at the end of the day I am still black and can be viewed as a threat to police or I can be perceived as an “angry black woman”. It was also a reality check as a parent. Already my main concerns are to ensure my children’s emotional needs and mental needs can be fully expressed. Making sure they hit their academic goals. Now I am reminded that I need to have a discussion about race and the color of their skin and how others may perceive them, imagine my eldest is four. I’ve been trying to figure out what to say to her and when is the best time to talk about it as I never had these conversations with my parents ( I think my parents were more concerned with me coming home pregnant than alive, to be frank). Nevertheless, these are the conversations I will need to have with both my daughter and son.

What’s nice about it this time around is that we have a support system we have new allies that have joined us to continue the fight. To see Latino, Asians, Middle Eastern even white people literally come to us and say we see you, we’ve got you and we stand with you. When I saw all 50 states march and protest for equality for blacks when I saw countries march and protest for equality for blacks I started to cry. Since these protest I have seen politicians defund the police in certain states, I have seen bills being passed so that history doesn’t repeat its self. I’ve seen people say no longer will they stay comfortable in their ignorance and educated themselves on the #blacklivesmatter movements, I’ve seen police officers being held accountable for their actions even charges being changed. I am feeling different vibrations this time around, that change is coming, I have seen the removal of flags and statues that represented racial oppression. But we can’t stop now. A lot of people think that this is it, bring awareness to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and get justice for them. But it is so much more than justice, its about breaking down the systems, finding their flaws or defective parts, and fixing it. It’s about us all having equal opportunities despite the color of their skin. So for those of you that think we are at the finish line, I just want you to know we are winning the battle but we haven’t yet won the war. We have so much work to be done in order for change to occur. I am glad that people are banning together, educating themselves, and demanding change. Even though these changes are for changes in the US, I applaud the protest. But its not just the US that has systematic and systemic racism. Canada has its own racism.

Canadian protesters in the nations capitol of Ottawa.

As I’ve mentioned before Canada is just quieter about it. There is a notion that you will not find racism in Canada and I believe its because we would like to think that we are better than our neighbors south of the border. We just do a better job portraying that we are better than the US and there isn’t any sort of discrimination. We do have incidences of black men being racially discriminated just because they ‘fit the description’. We do have incidences of cops abusing their power and targeting black young boys. I really believe that you will find racism just about anywhere. Although I am happy that there are changes coming for our neighbors south of the border I want to know what changes can we expect to see here? With politicians like Francois Legault and Doug Ford statements of how racism either isn’t a thing or isn’t as bad, ultimately dismisses the issue or shows their lack of knowledge, and that’s a problem. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. As civilians its now become our job to hold up a mirror to systems, people in government to say enough is enough and that something needs to change.

So what can you do? To all my Black friends you know what to do, I know as much as you may feel tired but we need to push through, continue the fight. For all my white and People of color allies here how you can help;

• Education. It’s all about education. Educate yourself as much as possible, I know most of you are thinking “where can I get this information” easy for you the internet has some good site, there are books, there is even podcast that you can find; ( Click here to see some of my suggestion. This is a great place to start from there do the research )Talk to your black friends, and I mean talk to understand and listen not to debate. THIS IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE!

• Call them out! Hold people and organizations accountable when there is racial injustices. Your uncle says that all black people are lazy you say something correct them challenge it ( make sure your well educated to body slam their rebuttals)

• Support the fight. Whether that’s protesting in the street or donating

• Break the cycle. In order for this to stop we need to teach our kids about racism so that if they are ever faced with it they know how to handle it as well as help their black friends

I can only hope that now that we see the injustices we will all do our part to make the world better for our children and their children. When you know better, you do better, so here's to a better future.

I am my ancestors wildest dreams