I want to be on the record – on this side of history – as someone who stands against systemic racism and who believes that Black lives matter. This is also a time for guys who look like me to listen and learn. This said, there are some things that I know right now.

• I know that I live on stolen land.
• I know that I am privileged because of my skin colour and the environmental, political, cultural, and economic reality of yesterday and today benefit guys like me.
• I know that this privilege has given me a platform in my worklife and I know that this platform needs to elevate Black and racialized voices.
• I know that I know nothing about what it’s like to be othered, to fear police, to feel powerless, or to live in a community that’s a precarious tinderbox because of how generations of inequality and systemic racism have left their impact.
• I know that I need to speak out about how things must change and expect other folks like me to speak out, too.
• I know that articles and retweets are not enough, that this isn’t perfect that I can do more.

Black lives matter. I will listen deeply and learn openly about what I can do to be a better ally.