Malala Yousafzai
There are a lot of activists that I admire. Malala Yousafzai, however, is my latest favourite. You have probably heard the story of how she was shot by the Taliban at age 15 in 2012, for being outspoken about education rights for girls in Pakistan. Malala recovered. When I heard about that story, I was so proud of her for standing up for what she believed in. I must be honest, though, that I had not followed Malala’s journey till yesterday, when I read that she arrived in Nigeria last week to show her support for the Bring Back Our Girls campaign. According to the tabloids, while addressing parents of the missing Chibok girls, Malala said: “I can see those girls as my sisters … and I’m going to speak up for them until they are released”. I found it amazing and admirable how she is still a strong campaigner for girls rights to education and obviously, there is no stopping her. Note that she just turned 17 years old, last Saturday.
Very recently, I was questioning myself about when I actually started being an activist and what led me to activism. I knew that I started tending towards activism last year (2013) but what exactly led me to it, I was not sure – there were too many things. In summary, however, I was tired of the seemingly endless world issues that I was hearing and sad about. At a point, I started taking action, in the way that I could. I would take an issue to Facebook to express how I felt and to raise awareness. Then, early this year, I decided to start a blog. I felt that it would be a medium for myself and other people who are passionate about social justice, to interact. Hence, I started this blog – Blurred Creations. With a blog, I am more accountable to my heart’s thumping to social injustices because now I have a place where I can spill all my thoughts in as much words as I want, and give solutions to social justice issues.
Is activism easy?
Definitely not. Everyday in our world, very preventable social justice issues such as: senseless violence, racism, religious bigotry and others alike, occur. So, as an activist, you kind of have a full time job dealing with negative, saddening things. Thus, there are definitely intervals of hopelessness with this job, but passion keeps the activist going.
I encourage every individual, whether you identify as an activist or not, to be a peaceful defender of the oppressed and wrongly victimized.
Love & Peace,
Chiamaka.
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