For Jaden Wilson, Black Lives Matter Is A Fight For His Future

Photo by Mark Malone/ Chatham Daily News

A month ago now, a large group of citizens marched through downtown Chatham showing support for Black Lives Matter.

While marches and protests continue across North America calling out racism, and police brutality, Chatham-Kent’s next generation of athletes and citizens are continuing to make their voices heard, including local track star Jaden Wilson.

“I feel that this Black Lives Matter movement is something wonderful and it’s something that needs to happen,” said Wilson. “My culture can’t continue to go around being scared of police or being scared I’m going out in public because we will be racially profiled. I think everybody should be educated on what is going on with this movement right now because this can’t continue any longer.”

Wilson, who runs for the Windsor Legion Track and Field team hopes everyone, regardless of race, culture, or ethnicity can stand behind Black Lives Matter, and demand real change.

Unfortunately for Wilson, racism isn’t just an abstract concept, it is something he has experienced.

“As an athlete I have experienced racism all over the place,” the Chatham product explained.

“Growing up people will say “oh you’re only fast because you’re black” or “your ancestors were probably fast at doing their job,” but I like to keep my modesty. I try to stay modest about the whole situation every time somebody asked me. I try to educate them and I continue to say, “no, I am not fast because I am black. Black is my skin colour, being black does not determine my speed or athleticism.”

Wilson won a bronze medal last summer at the Athletics Ontario championships in the U18 110m hurdles.

“I have worked so hard for this,” he said of his accomplishments.

“To anybody who doesn’t understand what Black Lives Matter are fighting for. I would say that we are fighting for our people. We are fighting for justice that we have yet to receive. We are fighting for the families that have suffered. We are fighting for our future. For our kids, because I am sure that I don’t want my children to live in a world like this. I feel that this whole movement is about advocating for, and using non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality against African-American people. I would politely ask anybody who doesn’t understand what is going on to slightly read a little bit about it.”

At last month’s rally, Wilson was front and center alongside dozens of other notable Chatham-Kent athletes.

While he has accomplished a lot in youth competition, Wilson has goals of earning a track and field scholarship to a school in Canada or the United States, but with the current situation in the USA, Wilson is among a growing number of Black athletes who are potentially facing a life or death decision to compete in the US.

“I feel that it is making me more scared to go away to school in the USA, because I really value my life and seeing all of the police brutality go on in the United States and how effortlessly it’s happening to unsuspecting African-Americans scares me that it could happen to me also.”

Locally, Wilson points to the mentorship of track coaches Derek Quigley and Courtney Bovin to help him through struggles both on and off the track.

They, among others have helped Wilson find strength in his background, and to keep working toward his goals, and a better society.

“I hope people become even the slightest bit educated on what is happening, because we will not stop until things are right.”

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