Teen Girls in the Black Lives Matter Movement
The recent Black Lives Matter movement has moved me greatly because I care deeply about this issue. I am mixed race, and having grown up on three continents I have seen many different attitudes towards race. I am part African, my mother grew up in South Africa during the apartheid and she has had conversations with my sister and I about race since we were children. I have always been passionate about anti-racism, having grown-up in a home and elementary school in London that were very diverse, inclusive, and global-minded. During this recent movement, I have found myself having even more conversations with my family and friends. I have also become more vocal online about anti-racism.
In the New York Times article “These Teen Girls Are Fighting for a More Just Future” every girl profiled moved me. I was inspired by their use of social media, and the passion, insight, and dedication they all bring to the movement. In particular, Shayla’s experience resonated with me. She talks about how she struggled with being both introverted and outspoken, saying “I feel like I’ve always had the drive, but until recently, I was too afraid to speak out.” I can relate to this feeling. She describes the moment that made her feel empowered to use her voice: “I think I just had a choice to either keep my voice in or speak out and continue.” There comes a time in many young people’s lives when they feel the need to use their voice.
Tiana also talks about this, she says “I have always had this, like, boiling thing, this boiling passion in my body to want to make a change in the world. I just never knew what it was.” I resonate with both their experiences because I have often felt a similar passion to use my voice on issues which I have expressed through writing since I was a teenager. Girls like Shayla and Tiana inspire me because they are sharing their voices with the world at such a young age.
During this movement many people are finding their voices in creative ways, especially online. This is a big difference from historic protest movements. The advent of social media ensures that people can have current information at their fingertips all the time. The online world can be challenging to navigate, but it also enables people to educate themselves and share their own voice in ways that no other generation has had access to. Therefore, young people have the ability to become leaders by having their own platform to speak directly to people. Zee shared a comment from a mother that moved her: “I’m happy that my daughter will grow up in a world that these young girls will change.” It is inspiring to see teenage girls changing the world.
Photography from Pinterest, quote by Desmond Tutu
New York Times article https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/style/teen-girls-black-lives-matter-activism.html