It’s easy for many of us to see something like Black Lives Matter as an abstract idea…
It’s easy for many of us to see something like Black Lives Matter ( a Black-centered political will and movement created by activists Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi) as an abstract idea. Even if we are well-meaning in our desire to learn, framing Blackness as “those” people still creates an “us” and “them” mentality. It’s always better for us to learn about our “neighbour,” and ways that our neighbourhoods have been shaped and changed by Black brothers and sisters like former North Vancouver and Neighbourhood House executive director John Braithwaite, Olympic medalist Harry Jerome, and superstar lifeguard “Canadian of the Century” Joe Fortes. Go here to read about the history of more remarkable Black Canadians.