Originally published in the September 2020 edition of the Anglican Montreal

by Juliet Oppong-Nuako

Black Lives Matter.

This statement incites many emotions, some confusion and some misconceptions. What exactly does it mean? Simply, that there is value in black lives. There is value in lives that have been denigrated for generations by the legacy of slavery and racism. Yet, you may ask, why are black people screaming this message now? Why must we voice this simple message that should - after all this time - be self-evident? Because still, even in the 21st Century, we are told, even if implicitly, that our lives have less value through oppressive systems that put whiteness at the forefront. We are told we are inferior with stereotypes and perceptions that continue to denigrate black people to this day.

In July of 2013, Black Lives Matter began as a twitter hashtash following the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who shot and killed Treyvon Martin in February of 2012. In subsequent years, more deaths of black people followed at the hands of the police. Recently, the death of George Floyd on camera led to a special awakening for many. George Floyd was killed by Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer. His death led to an awakening for many because it brought again the issue of racism to the forefront of everyday conversation. Protests for BLM spread far and wide. This was pivotal and necessary to the cause.

My own awakening began in 2015, when I was introduced to the phenomenal powerhouse that is Shanice Nicole, a Montreal-based educator, speaker and poet. Back then, Shanice made me uncomfortable. This outspoken black woman was talking about how we should push against the systems that continue to oppress black people. She made me uncomfortable because I remember having deep-seeded convictions and distrust for my own colour. How was I to reconcile all these emotions?

Shanice made me remember how I told a black friend of mine, “I wish I was white so I could have the long blond hair like the white girls.” She brought to mind my parents constantly preparing me to assimilate to the white culture, by telling us such things as, “Your skin colour will always stand out, so you have to learn to conform. You have to excel. You have to be educated. You have to dress in a certain way.” Shanice made me feel emotions that I wanted to suppress. How could I go on assimilating if I confronted these emotions? In my mind, assimilation equalled greater opportunities in life, and I was not going to feel or do anything to jeopardize that! I was uncomfortable with what Shanice was offering but I understood that it meant something powerful.

Shanice made me realize that no amount of academic credentials or successful assimilation to the Canadian culture would protect my black son from deep rooted prejudices that are held by many, subconscious or otherwise. My husband and I began “The Talk” with our son at the tender age of five. Every black parent has “The Talk” with their children. My parents had many talks about race with my siblings and me as we grew up. Our “Talk” involved letting us know that in many situations, the colour of our skin will play a factor in how people treat us. “The Talk” involved warning us to always be respectful of authority (especially police officers), not just because respect is an important behaviour to cultivate but because disrespect of an authority figure might lead to us being apprehended, hurt, or killed. “The Talk” is heavy and is done gradually. But it must be done to keep our black children vigilant. To bring our black children safely home. Back in 2015, I started discussing Shanice’s views with the rest of my family, who being supportive, listened. Life, however, moved on and I returned to living my life the best that I could.

On May 25th, 2020, George Floyd was killed, and my feelings resurfaced. The death of George Floyd coupled with the current crisis of COVID-19, has led us into a state of global unrest. This situation pushed me to engage in a great deal of reflection and introspection. I was ready to confront my reality as a black woman. Shanice Nicole states, “We are all in this air, so how complicit are we?”. Are we examining our own actions, the conscious and the subconscious, towards black people and other people of colour? Are we bringing awareness to the social and economic injustices that we see daily? I am choosing to not be complicit anymore. To abandon comfort and to lean into what I had previously considered as uncomfortable territory.

In the past few months, I have felt free to embrace the natural hair that grows from my scalp and the beautiful melanin that makes my skin glow. Standards of beauty have historically centred on strait hair and light skin. So, in a sense, I am returning to myself. This knowledge and appreciation of the black body has led to a deeper spiritual awakening within me, and the need to spread awareness so that black children can understand their worth and have the tools to let their natural value shine.

It is of the utmost importance to examine thoughts, words and actions towards black people and other people of colour. In the face of racism, we should call out those who continue to uphold racist belief systems that are detrimental to equal opportunity and equal access for black and marginalized lives. These systems continue to lead to the devaluing and the death of black people at the hands of those in authority who should protect us. Truly, for all lives to matter, black lives and all marginalized lives must matter. Black Lives Matter helps us live what Scripture has taught: “Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place” (Jeremiah 22:3).