Black History Month, to me, means a lot. On the one hand, it means a month where people tell you Martin Luther King was a peaceful protester to match their own ideologies of how black people should protest. A month of non-black-owned social media sites and businesses posting about Black History Month, for one or two days. Not to mention, companies that have scandals involving black employees and racially biased employers are the ones that seem to profit the most this month. That means a month of watching non-black influencers post about black lives until they feel it's no longer trending and profitable. I believe Black History Month is a month where black voices are meant to be heard, but it's hard to speak up when you're constantly overshadowed by non-black voices speaking on your behalf. Let them say "I am not you, but I see you". I hear you.’ talking about issues they are not allowed to talk about is unfair. In recent months, it feels like people will only listen to what black people have to say as long as it comes from white mouths. This trial changes that, which I am grateful for.

It is said that Martin Luther King was a peaceful protester. The very popular quote "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can." airs every February. This quote can be roughly translated as "spread love, not hate", but you can't spread love if you're drowned in hate. Some people will take this phrase and twist it to mean all sorts of different things. When MLK gave that speech, he said it to a crowd of people with different skin colors. He was an extremely inspirational man and he made several quotes that should tell you where he is in the protest. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter", "A riot is the language of the unheard" and "Now is the time to lift our nation out of the quicksand of racial injustice towards the solid rock of fraternity". '. Martin Luther King was imprisoned for protesting peacefully, but still believed that nonviolent direct action was morally superior to rioting. He wasn't necessarily a rioter, but he supported those who rioted because he believed it channeled rage into a fighting force without it consuming you. Disobeying unjust laws to fight for your life is okay and it's the way to make us all equal. He inspires me the most and I agree with all of his views on America, the race system and the riots.

"As we worry about how we can try to talk about our experiences, others post online during Black History Month to 'stay woke.' that most black people think about, because most of the time we think about how to stay alive."

It is extremely important to have Black History Month in Canada because black history is part of the backbone of this country. The contributions and accomplishments of Black Canadians are celebrated and taught, which is good because they are usually not discussed at all. Europeans and whites would be the ones we talked about in the past. In some textbooks today, white people are still described as Canada's heroes and discoverers. The real credit should be given to Native Americans, which is a totally different and horrific story. Native Americans were horribly treated and still are horribly treated. I believe in POC solidarity, which is why I also take time during Black History Month to uplift Indigenous people. Black people have contributed so much to the cultural diversity of Canada, and we are reminded of this once a year. I think the topic shouldn't be brought up every year but should become part of everyday conversation as it tends to be forgotten once February is over.

Ignorance gives people the privilege of barely thinking about black lives for a month. We constantly think about ourselves. People have the privilege of using a hashtag to "raise awareness" under a post of them at the beach, no social distancing. We are afraid to become one. People have the privilege of having fun with police offers, creating TikToks with them and supporting "blue lives". We dont do. Instead, we worry about what clothes we should wear or how to present ourselves so as not to threaten any police officer.