A couple months ago, a hot topic being discussed nationwide was Black Lives Matter. I understand that this is an incredibly controversial subject and it provoked conversations through a number of communities that allowed many people to express their opinions on the issue and bring people together to talk about it in forums.

When I attended my first community forum this past summer, I was surprised by how many attended. Realizing that I was not alone in feeling upset and confused about our country was comforting. However, after 30 days, no one was hashtaging Black Lives Matter, Alton Sterling or the other black men that were shot and killed that month. It disappointed me to see that people are only willing to join the conversation when there is a death that becomes a national story and it's convenient for them to hashtag like everyone else.

Why did the conversations stop all of a sudden? It's not that we need to discuss the death of a black man every day, but we should be continuing to have thought provoking conversations that can actually lead to change in our community. When we discuss BLM, it's usually associated with police brutality; however, the organization goes way beyond that. It's about changing systematic oppression of black people.

Contesting systematic oppression can not only lead to change for black people but for all who have been affected by this system. If we are persistent in conversing and taking action, then we could possibly lower discriminatory treatment.

So, why is continuing the conversation important? When you contribute to this discussion, you are helping figure out ways that could change the institutional racism in this society. Remember to always be open and respectful in these type of discussions, even if someone states the opposite of your opinion. With your help, you can help make this society a better place for everyone. So please, let's keep the conversations going.