There was a victorious shout in the streets when the abolition of slavery was announced in Canada in 1834. Tears of joy streamed down bloodied cheeks, children chanted religious hymns of praise and danced with no fear. It was and still is a glorious day for black people in Canada. Yet as Martin Luther King Jr. mentioned in his "I Have a Dream" speech 100 years later, while they no longer have iron chains clasped to their wrists, today they are still being held back by society's discriminatory mindset. No matter how hard the children of former slaves have tried to move forward towards opportunity, society puts barriers to try to discourage and even stop our movement forward. This mindset is changing slowly in recent years but barriers remain in subtle forms. For example, Canadian politics under the liberal influence of Justin Trudeau has drastically changed in the representation of minorities there. His cabinet boasts 50% male and 50% female and four Sikhs members in parliament, a first in Canada. Yet our black community is still underrepresented when it comes to political office. In 2016 though, one by one, it seems this is changing after Greg Fergus became an MP in the Liberal party. This does provide hope for more of us,  Black Canadian youth to take another look at the possibilities of leadership and become interested in political office.

Black history month is the time when the international community showcases our black heritage, culture and highlights how our people have been successful. These individuals such as Fergus are admired by the younger black generation and it gives us all a sense of hope showing that despite the discrimination, anyone can fulfil their dreams and even hold political office. While Black History Month is just one month of the year, seeing a black man or woman take office to have a voice every day is better, to speak for others.  I am encouraged to aspire to my dream career and I know many like myself will be motivated to push forward for what they are passionate about. So if one of us were to take office they will become an inspiration like Martin Luther King, Michaëlle Jean and Carter G. Woodson for their community.

The main purpose of a person taking political office is to serve the people. Their job is to carry out the voice of society and execute their needs in the forms of passing new legislation. With that in mind, we should go for office because as a black person, being in the minority,  we experience things that people in the majority may not go through. While it may seem that Canada has moved past racism, in comparison to the United States, Canada still has its struggles. It is about time Canada started paying attention to the "black elephant in the room", as Fergus puts it. Recently there has been an appeal to reveal the truth about "anti-Black" racism in Policing in Toronto. With greater power political realm there would be a greater chance for these statistics to be uncovered. We have to be more open with the truth in order to face it and bring light as a black community to address the issues affecting our future generations.

In addition to representing their community, this black politician is addressing our issues and needs, and after all, isn't this what our ancestors have fought and bled for? Over the course of history, black people have fought for and died for freedom. In the hope, that their children and their children's children would not have to suffer the pain and injustices they suffered. As Rosseau once said: "Man born is free, but everywhere he is in chains." This is a perfect description of what the Black community of Canada experiences in 2019.  We are born free. We have our rights written in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, yet even today socially we are confined to play only so many roles. Some are lucky and get to play a dignified role as a doctor, scientist, a police officer or even a star athlete in our society, while others go into mediocre jobs. But no matter what job or career they have, they will always be subjected to the same profiling: Dark and dangerous. So it is important for us youth to rise up, break through the barriers and the low expectations and aim high. Only then we can show the rest of Canada we have the right to take office as proclaimed in Section 3 of the Charter.

Imagine with me, a world where more of us, black youth go up for the public office. With more young blacks in power, holding the reins, we could make way for our people in the larger society. We could find new solutions to old problems like affordable housing. We could allocate more funding to the neighbourhood schools who are underserved. We could address issues of our community which are not unique to blacks but somehow our people especially single-parent families feel the effects. Creating room for growth, creating space for new inventions and innovations, creating an environment for entrepreneurship and attracting investment into our community, imagine our brilliant scholars, amazing athletes, creative artists and our hidden geniuses having a chance to shine, all because in the leadership of the country one of us, or a few of us, represents not only the greater good but the good of the minority too. So I speak to you my fellow youth rise and be counted. Go up for office. Start in your school, start on the athletic field, the hockey rink, wherever you find yourself, shine and, go for the top. For our history is full of achievers, fighters and overcomers. As we focus on those that have gone before, rising to political office will, for us, open the doors for us to uncover new solutions to the problems that Martin Luther King referenced in his speech. Eventually, making his dream truly a reality.