This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my near and dear friends, Arlicia Johnson, over the social constructs and conflicts the African American community faces in today's time. Arlicia Johnson is a young African American scholar at Stephen F. Austin State University pursuing a major in Sociology in hopes to be a Sociologist when she graduates in 2018. Arlicia is very well-spoken and would like her voice heard by White America. She will be discussing and answering seven questions we are all probably wondering, but might be too afraid to ask.

Question 1: In your own words, describe what the Black Lives Matter Movement is and why it's important to you.

"I believe the Black Lives Matter movement is a social movement created to raise change and awareness about the black community and hardships that we have to face. It is the present day Civil Rights movement, and we are still striving for the same rights. We are tired of the injustice and there needs to be change."

Question 2: Although the black community is one, why do you think the community divides within itself? Specifically by variations of skin color.

"I believe the divide in the black community traces back to slavery where lighter skin were house slaves and darker skin were outside. This created a divide naturally because there were different experiences among the community, and now that has stemmed to the concept that lighter skinned African Americans are seen more beautiful because they are closer to the white standard of beauty."

Question 3: Why do you think traditional gender roles are still so prevalent within the black community?

"It's tradition, and it is hard to unlearn what generations and generations have been taught was the way of life."

Question 4: The black community unites over the Black Lives Matter movement but why do you think it divides when there's an LGBTQ black life at matter?

"There's a divide because of the 'deep rooted religious beliefs.' The bible and Jesus is the answer to everything so once you go against that especially in a major way, it just rubs the community in a bad way. I definitely feel that this is an older generation mindset. The younger community is slowly accepting that we all deserve to be protected and all are fighting the same fight together."

Question 5: How do you feel when non-PoC use the n-word and do you think it's appropriate for them to use?

"I do not like when other races and ethnicities use the n-word because it derives from a negative word that was once used to degrade us as people, and although it is not the same word hearing it from another race will and can cause the same feeling as the original word."

Question 6: Do you believe racism is still alive and well in today's time and why do you believe that?

"Racism is alive and well in today's time because everyday there is a new issue regarding people in the black community being treated unfairly or even killed because of their skin color."

Question 7: Can you tell me about some social injustices you've experienced or witnessed through systematic, institutionalized racism?

"I have experienced and witnessed plenty of social injustice in my 20 years of living. One example is when my friends and I were going to a gas station and the worker would not let us all in at once but let a group of white males go in with no problem."

America as a whole needs to come together to combat the many social injustices the black community still experiences. We all know the right and wrong way to treat people and it's time we stand up to those who choose to treat others wrong. Black lives matter and they will always matter.