COLUMBUS, Ohio — For Olivia Pierre-Louis, 17, being in the spotlight is nothing new to her.
The Columbus Academy Senior said she’s been outspoken in her own community and church when it comes organizing protests and tackling the tough issues currently taking center stage in our world today.
And she’s trying to soak it all in, but at the same time, life can be a little overwhelming at times for the teenager.
“I’m not only trying to figure out how to navigate in a more complicated political climate and social climate, but trying to figure out how that’s going to affect me getting into college. But it’s also empowering in a sense, to see people my own age being interested and wanting to get involved,” said Pierre-Louis.
Pierre-Louis was one of the guest speakers Wednesday at Columbus Metro Club’s luncheon titled, “Racism, where do we go from here?“
Joining her is another Columbus native and University of Tennessee Junior Jenae Talison, who is majoring in Communications and minoring in Africana Studies.
The Centennial High School graduate spoke at length about what it’s like to be a Black woman in America, the beauties, the struggles and everything in between.
“It’s hard to see your people in distress when you can’t do anything about it. As women we are nurturers. We want to make everyone feel good but it’s hard when every time you look on the news, somebody else is being shot, somebody else is dying, somebody is not having justice. The America we know is not following with the Constitution is written for us,” said Talison.
But if there’s one message both woman want to point out is that their generation has its own voice — it just needs to be heard.
“If you’re not comfortable on your own, stand behind someone else. But just get your voice out there, get yourself heard,” said Pierre-Louis.
“I’m proud of our young people and I believe that one day, enough is enough, and there will be justice and there will be change,” said Talison.
