[Deborah]

All of these responses are key as to why anti-Black racism remains a significant and troubling reality in Ontario and elsewhere. I have learned more history here in these modules than in all my years of educational forums. The persistent silence of Black and Indigenous history in education offered to generations of youth is complicit in the maintenance of racial inequities.

[Raven]

I definitely agree with you on that. I have learnt so much throughout this training and discussion with everyone than I’ve ever learnt.

[Alicia]

As I moved through this module, it was very upsetting to me to realize that most of the history I have learned in school in regards to institutional racism and the historical roots of racism in general, has been through an “American lens”. I valued this module so much as it taught me about important historical Canadian figures and their contributions. It is quite shameful that I was so unaware of many of these individuals.

[Julie]

Same!

[Christine]

I think many people in Ontario think “it doesn’t happen here” or “I don’t think that way, so it doesn’t exist for me”. Those are ignorant thoughts and we need to do better at educating everyone that racism STILL EXISTS and it needs to stop!

[Raven]

I also look at it as being over-optimist about racism as a whole. It can be very harmful and can cloud our minds towards the truth. I feel like people focus so much on the fact that racism isn’t necessarily the same as it was back in the days (slavery, cotton felids and physical mistreatment) that it then leads them to think that it may not even exist anymore because they don’t see it.

[Alisha]

I think about the types of information I am often reading re: ABR, and it is often coming out of the USA, as such, it makes it easy to dismiss it as an issue in Ontario / Canada, and only consider it in a US perspective. I also often think about the College Humor video titled “Diet Racism” which I think is often the perception in Ontario / Canada – based on conversations I have, there is the acceptance that racism exists here, BUT it’s not as bad as in the US so people feel okay with the status quo – these conversations extend to the black youth I work with.

<font face=”inherit”>I also reflect on the history that we </font>receive<font face=”inherit”> in our education system, which is incredibly white washed, and how people think that because of the Underground Railway, that Canada was somehow a safe haven for black slaves fleeing the US, and as such, we couldn’t perpetuate racism. I think this narrative has persisted, and Canada’s multicultural campaign ingrains this narrative further. </font>

<font face=”inherit”>So despite the evidence that is presented, the dominate narrative that persists allows people to turn a blind eye to what is actually taking place in people’s lives that contradict that narrative. </font>

[Annette]

Anti-black racism is and will continue to be a problem because Black children, youth and families are dealing with structural racism within our Society such as the school, system, child welfare system and the police system. All these system often criminalized and/or pathologized black families or black communities. There is also the institutional policies and procedures which they used as protection from the accountability of racism and oppression.

[Raven]

*claps* Well said!

[KELVIN]

After learning from the lectures, what I find scary is that often we conceptualize racism as an individual act and fail to recognize how deeply rooted it has been not only on an individual level, but also historically, institutionally, educationally and systemically. It’s difficult to change what we don’t recognize.

[Danish]

Hi Kelvin,

I think you’re right. At the same time, perhaps that’s why individuals think that they cannot do anything or make a difference on their own when there are so many more larger structures and systems at work that are contributing to anti-Black racism. Perhaps that’s where the advocacy piece can come in?

[Uzo]

💯Truth!

[Patrice]

ABR still exists in Ontario because of policies such as the Multiculturalism Act. The Multicultural Act highlights and celebrates inclusion and acceptance, not racism. But the reality is that these policies that helped form our identity as a province, work to make ABR invisible and hides the real nature of racism in our Province.

[Raven]

Very true Patrice! Even though these policies and acts are put into place to shed light on what the population of our country looks like, at the end of the day it still ends up hiding racism with have in our country today. I feel like this act was put into place as a way to say”see this shows we care about the diversity and multiculturalism within ur societies”, without any actions.

[Mike]

I don’t feel equipped to properly answer this question, but since it has been put out to participants, I’m guessing it’s okay to give answers from a place of learning. I would say that Anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario due to white supremacy. As a white person who grew up in Southwestern Ontario, I can say that I was raised to be completely unaware of my own race, and to perceive other races as different and somehow inferior, all while being completely oblivious to how problematic my views were, and also believing that there was no way that me or my family could be racist. I wrongly understood that a racist was simply a person who outwardly demonstrated aggression to people of colour, and that “nice” people who kept their negative thoughts and feelings about Black, Indigenous and People of Colour concealed (even to themselves) were “good” and therefore not racist. Reflecting on my upbringing now, I can see all of the problematic behaviours that were very accepted in my white community and extremely problematic, from racist jokes, to excluding people from groups, work, and social activities because they did not seem to “fit” within what I now understand as whiteness. Although I have spent a lot of time learning about race and white supremacy, I still feel like my journey is somehow still just beginning. The more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know. That scares me, but what scares me more is the fact that I am the only member of my white family that has even begun the journey. My siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins still prefer to consider themselves “nice” and too ill-equipped to grapple with the concept of race, and use all kinds of defensive tactics to avoid the conversation. On the other hand, I have also failed. Out of fear of rejection or anger from my family, my attempts to talk about race have been feeble, and I have allowed myself to be shouted down and silenced time and time again. Despite all of the progress made by Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, in bringing the issues of white supremacy, racism and Anti-Black Racism to light in this province, my family remains in the dark, and I fear that this is the case for many white families across the province, especially those who live and work in predominantly white communities, and thus very isolated from meaningful conversations about race, and anyone who might hold them accountable. If I can make any small contribution to combatting Anti-Black Racism in Ontario, I feel it will be a life-long endeavour to continually educate myself, and challenge whiteness in my own family and community, which will likely result in more people avoiding me; a small price to pay in comparison to the injustices suffered by Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in my community and province. I promise to use what I have learned in this course to do better, and I sincerely hope our collective efforts make change in Ontario.

[Cale]

Mike, I really appreciate the honest reflection on your personal experience as a white person grappling with the complexities of race, whiteness and white supremacy. I can certainly say that I too, lived much of my earlier years with a blindfold over my eyes, and now that I have taken the blindfold off, I realize how much unlearning and learning I need to do. I can very much relate with your comment, “the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know”. While I often feel overwhelmed that I am only in the infant stages of my journey to becoming an anti-racist, I am grateful for the humility I have gained throughout this process. When it comes to dealing with racist family members, this can be an incredibly challenging situation to navigate, but I have found progress in planting seeds over time. Though time has been of the essence to attack this issue, strategic delivery remains an important aspect when dealing with our covert or overt racist white folks. A helpful saying that I learned from an incredibly brilliant Black, queer, activist was “instead of calling folks out, call them into the movement.” I hope you can find as much power in the statement as I have.

[Ian]

I have been struggling with how to answer this question as well. Reading your reflections on your upbringing, and the struggles faced in confronting white supremacy and racisim with friends and family struck a chord with me and helped me properly frame what I was feeling as I learn through these modules.

There is a massive disconnect between individuals who percieve themselves to be “not racist” but continue to utilize their privilege and whiteness to prosper, while failing to grasp the systemic nature of the problems facing BIPOC communitites. We all have to work together to solve these issues and break down barriers.

[Kathe]

Thank you for sharing these reflections, Mike. Engaging from a place of learning is important, and I agree that this learning – and unlearning – is something we must recommit to every day.

[Julie]

I believe that ABR is still a problem in Ontario because racism against blacks is not recognized as a systematic-real issue. Based on the our limited knowledge of history, Ontario was and is still viewed as a protected/safe haven for slaves and blacks. We focus so much on the United States that we often neglect what’s happening in our own Country and society.

[Raven]

The ideology behind thinking that Canada is all peaches and roses has definitely always been an issue that has increased the levels of ignorance towards the discrimination and racism towards black people.

I agree Julie, Canadians are so busy comparing themselves to the United States to make them look better that they end up neglecting what’s actually happening right here in their own country.

[Cassandra]

There is a significant lack of black history in our educational system. Throughout all stages of the educational history there is hardly any mention of Black Canadian’s contributions to Canadian society, and even less mentions of the history of slavery, anti-Black racism and discrimination that exists throughout our history. Thus, most Ontarians believe that there is hardly any racism in our society and therefore there is no need to fix it.

[Zarina]

After going through some responses paired with the lectures in the first modules. I agree with everyone here when they say that Ontario is in denial of it’s racism towards the black community. I have worked within high schools and seen first hand how black youth are treated in comparison to white students.. We’ve had struggles with the school administrators as we’ve tried to advocate on behalf of our youth. It’s a sad reality but one that I would’ve never been exposed to if I hadn’t seen it for myself. There is a lot of work to be done within the school systems to protect young black students.

[Katarina]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, Zarina. I agree that there is a lot of work that needs to be done in the education system to confront anti-Black racism. Research has shown, again and again, that Black students are disproportionately suspended, expelled, and streamed into lower-level classes… and that the impacts of these disparities continue to be felt long after they leave the school system.

I would encourage folks who are interested in learning more about the barriers that Black youth face in Ontario’s education system to check out the Pathways to Education report Mistrust and Low Expectations: Educational Disadvantage and Black Youth in Ontario.

I was encouraged by the announcement that Ontario will end streaming in high school, but, as Amin Ali writes in this blogpost, we need to recognize that de-streaming is not a “magic bullet in-and-of-itself,” and that it needs to be combined with funding, equity reforms, and accountability. It is, at the very least, a step in the right direction.

[Jae Woong]

There is more need to create ongoing awareness for anti-Black racism in Ontario. Anti-Black racism has to be an ongoing process not just having awareness on certain occasions or when some event has highlighted in the media. I have found that many people in Ontario say “we are not racist”; however, many people often forgot what could be considered as a racist. I found that there is a lot of hate has been increased toward the racial minority throughout the world during the pandemic. Since it is a difficult time for everyone, I found the important to include a safe space for everyone.

[KELVIN]

I think the cognitive dissonance that is mentioned in one of the lectures plays a big role here in Ontario/Canada, in that, because we are “nice” and multicultural as Canadians, we “cannot” be racists. Yet, we fail to acknowledge how racism can be manifested and represented in ways beyond what most recognize.

[Jae Woong]

Thank you so much for replying Kelvin! I really appreciate your comments! Yes, I started to find “social work bubbles” that many of my professors have mentioned. Social workers are trying to be look always “good” and “protect people from oppression”. However, this does not always happen, and social workers can become oppressors. I found having feedbacks from supervisors, colleagues and clients are very crucial to reduce the possible barriers that can be made to the youth.

I have lived in Canada for about 2 years and a half. Majority of my life, I was a dominant population, so I did not know what exactly means to be treated as a marginalized population.

The moment when I reached Canada, I felt this is a new place and people are very nice, but I could find some barriers as a racialized man.

I found allyships are very significant for positive change to Black youth.

[Sam]

Good lesson, we need to keep unfolding history to educate others.

[Liza]

History is so important. My grandmother was born in 1910 and she used to tell us about KKK cross burnings in SW Ontario that she saw when she was a young girl.

This is the history that needs to be taught in schools.

[Camille]

I think anti-Black racism is still a problem because their is a refusal to admit that racism exists. To admit that racism exist is to admit that you are an oppressor.

[Cyril]

It is not possible to properly heal if the cause of the illness is ignored.

Racist ideas are widely held, whether or not we are upfront with how these ideas impact our own perceptions and treatment of ourselves and others.

I agree Camille, admitting that there is a problem is certainly a start.

[Lisa]

In my opinion, anti-Black racism remains a significant and troubling reality in Ontario for several reasons. One is the continued discourse of denial that is prevalent among Canadians. Canadian leaders cannot acknowledge the role Canada has played historically in the slave trade of Africans, and their erasure of African Canadians contribution in the building of this country speaks loudly to their anti-Black sentiments. Our key social institutions: government, economy, education, healthcare, etc. are also tainted by negative ideologies about race and who is deserving of love, respect, resources and overall wellbeing. Intersectionalities of gender, class, age, sexual orientation also add to the layers of oppression experienced by African Canadians. These institutions need to be restructured to include active anti-Black racism policies, and there needs to be a shift in the power imbalance in order to include more African Canadians in leadership roles.

[simone]

In my opinion, anti-Black racism still exists in Ontario because there is a lack of cultural education. We need more resources, more positive reinforcement and include diverse cultural awareness in the early educational system.

[Raven]

That’s a great way to put it Simone. Cultural awareness has deteriorated so much throughout the years within the educational system, that it’s almost non-existent. Implementing that back into these social systems could definitely aid in giving these youth a sense of belonging. and knowledge of their real past. At the same time also educating non-black individuals on different cultures.

[Anca]

I think this is a complex question with many layers and historical roots. Ultimately I believe there is vested interest in perpetuation whiteness, which is programmed into our social structures, institutions and the fabric of Canada, as system is programmed to maintain the status quo. The fear of losing power, influence, wealth, opportunity and white superiority sets up a win-lose dynamic and perpetuates anti-Black racism.

[Kathe]

Yes! I believe those of us in the so-called ‘helping’ professions – including (and especially!) social work, which has perpetuated oppression and injustice, and the white savior complex – need to interrogate the power and privilege in our roles and in our work (as Lisa and Cyril also point out in their comments above).

[James]

I totally agree that a huge obstacle in working against ABR is people’s fear of losing power and privilege. There needs to be a shift in thinking where people recognize that what they may “lose” will be outweighed by the immense gains to our collective communities

[Kristina]

This is definitely it, Anca – anti-Black racism enables white power and so it continues. Whiteness and white folks use abr as a way to keep their power, capital, wealth, status, job opportunities – and in the case of youth – as a way to maintain power over young Black people and their families.

[Chantal]

Very well said, Anca! Your response reminds me of the saying “Equality can feel like oppression. But it’s not. What you’re feeling is just the discomfort of losing a little bit of your privilege.” However, there is a need for those in power to wrestle with, as opposed to dismiss, their discomfort.

[Lisa]

Hi Chantal,

I like what you said about ‘wrestling with their discomfort.’ In my Social Work training at Ryerson, it was common for my professors to remind myself and my peers to sit with our discomfort and reflect on where our discomfort is rooted. Our first reaction is never to let go of privilege. Privilege is the currency that gives us the things we both need and desire.

[Rachelle]

I have appreciated reading everyone’s thoughts and perspectives on this.

From what I’ve learned, I believe anti-Black racism continues to exist in Ontario due to the extensive entrenchment of white supremacy in institutions, systems, and beliefs. Those in positions of privilege and power benefit from this, and therefore lack motivation to work towards dismantling it. The covert nature of democratic racism and the belief of meritocracy contribute to ignoring the oppression that exists by promoting the idea that Ontario (and Canada) is a tolerant and egalitarian society where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed. Tokenism and performative allyship perpetuate the idea that process is being made without any meaningful change taking place, all the while upholding the oppressive institutions, systems, and beliefs.

[Jasmine]

I agree with what you have written Rachelle! I would also extend your comments to the global platform; it’s challenging to think of ABR in the context of only Ontario as this province, country, continent (etc.) is part of a much larger world where ABR is very much alive and thriving, as is the harm done and perpetuated through white supremacy.

[Raven]

Hi Rachelle,

Great insight and reflection. The modules also effectively touch on some of those topics such as white supremacy in a lot of our systems and institutions.

It’s true what you said about people in power not wanting to dismantle the current structure of this world because that would mean them having to make some changes in their own lives and share their privilege and power.

Thanks for sharing your opinion.

[Rachelle]

From what I’ve learned, anti-Black racism still exists in Ontario due to how extensively entrenched white supremacy is within institutions, systems, and beliefs. Those in positions privilege and power benefit from this, and therefore often lack motivation to make real, impactful change. The more covert nature of democratic racism and the belief of meritocracy also lead to ignoring that oppression exists, in addition to largely dismissing Canada’s history of anti-Black racism. Tokenism and performative allyship perpetuate the idea that progress is being made without any meaningful change, all the while continuing to uphold the same anti-Black institutions, systems, and beliefs.

[Haley]

The Black Lives Matter movement brought race relations to the forefront during 2020 and continues to do so. There is much that needs to be done to combat systemic racism in Ontario.

I think that Jane Kitchen made a good point when they mentioned that ‘our institutions were built as tools of genocide.’ Our history reflects this and our current situation in Ontario does as well. I think that the reason that significant change has not been made due to unspoken protocols that exist around race talk. In a workshop on Power, Privilege, and Anti-Racism in the Classroom Angela Connors identified different protocols that limit race talk. There is a political protocol that suggests avoiding certain topics in order not to offend others. There is an academic protocol that suggests avoiding certain topics that cause strong emotions because we are told that emotions are incompatible with reason. There is a colour-blind protocol that claims not to notice colour for fear that it may indicate that we are racist and biased. There is a solidarity protocol that suggests avoiding topics that indicate there are disagreements among/within groups. There is also a saving-face protocol that claims there is no problem or shutting down discussions out of fear it may impact reputation or brand. I think that the lack of change in society stems from these protocols being used in different settings.

I think that in order to foster real change white supremacy and privilege needs to be addressed and this cannot happen if white fragility is allowed to continue. The oppression that Black folx experience occurs in many different ways including both micro-aggressions and micro-invalidations. If we are able to teach children when they are young that anti-Black racism is wrong and teach strategies to combat racism I hope that we can make significant change.

[Kathe]

Hi Haley! Thank you for sharing this outline. I’ve certainly experienced what you describe in different educational and professional spaces. Do you know if there is a publicly-available resource on Angela Connors’s work that we might be able to share on our Knowledge Hub?

[Sharon]

I think Dr. Andrea Davis in her lecture (module 1.4) Anti-Black Racism and a Discourse of Denial in Canadian Society spoke to why anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario. White Canadians (and those in Ontario) have lived in and benefitted from a distorted history of people in their country. They have lived under the banner of multiculturalism and have been seen to be a tolerant society by citizens around the world. However, this is where the disconnect (cognitive dissonance) lies. Multiculturalism and tolerance (both terms I dislike) cloud the reality of systemic anti-Black racism and a lack of inclusion in society for Black people. This distorted historical reality and the complicity of Brown people (e.g. the model minority myth outlined in Dr. Vidya Shah’s lecture Module 1.5) has strengthened white supremacy and furthered anti-Black racism in Ontario. I am critically hopeful that the anti-Black racial reckoning we see now (as a result of sustained and renewed activism since the murder of George Floyd) will continue to drive the change needed to address anti-Black racism in Ontario.

Note: Black people (in Ontario, Canada and globally) have been advocating for inclusion through activism for generations. However, what we see in today is a global awareness and recognition of anti-Black racism and the call to action for non-Black people to reflect on their privilege, power and complicity. Again, I am critically hopeful for a more equal and just society.

[Raven]

Perfectly said! Sharon you articulated that beautifully.

[Marc]

I agree with Abinna that there is a lot of denial in Ontario, and would add there is also a lot of active racism. As an elected person who is white, middle aged and from an area with a very low level of diversity (Paris, On) I know racist people assume I am a racist often. I get the tires kicked on the subject often when we were meeting in person. It is an active thing for many people who seek out others of the same mindset to “speak freely”.

I find correcting and challenging it exhausting but do so because its the right thing to do and because I know from my friends, students and colleagues who deal with active and systemic racism every day they are far more exhausted living in and challenging these same kinds of people and systems daily.

Racism is still a problem in Ontario BECAUSE there are lots of actively racist people here still and racist organizations.

[Raven]

Thank you Marc for sharing your experience and perspective. I completely agree with what you said about there being lots of actively racist individuals/organizations.

Unfortunately, I also feel that these individuals and organizations are becoming more comfortable to express themselves in that manner.

[Marc]

Thanks Raven and I agree with that as well. Emboldened is the word I keep thinking about.

[Aldith]

Emboldened is definitely the word to describe the increased displays of racism these days. It’s unfortunate bc this reflects societies decreased ability to sit with discomfort long enough to explore the opinions and lived experiences of others who may not share their world view.

There’s a Black man in the American south who befriends open KKK members based on a shared love for music. Over time, many of the Klansmen quit the Klan. I’m so sorry I can’t remember specific details. Suffice it to say, relationship brought about those choices to change. The rhetoric that emboldens people to act in racist ways works because it devalues relationships.

[Tricia]

Amazing learnings this week. There is so much work to be done.

[Christine]

Personally I believe, Ontario , but generally all of Canada is colonized in the beliefs and systems that are in each sector of society. Education barley teaches the true history of Canada, the makeup industry has just started created more diverse colour ranges, etc.. The point is so many areas have failed BIPOC communities. It’s a never ending with the systems that are in place and even the government system we have has been implimented for years and yet minoritity groups are never equally made an importance compared to their white counterparts, which creates a barrier between groups.

[Abinna]

From what I learned about this week’s module, there is a lot of denial that racism is an issue in Canada. The lectures especially show that racism is shown in different ways but is left unacknowledged. Media also plays a role in how the news are broadcasted which also shows that racism in not just an individual problem but a systemic problem.

[Aidan McNeill-Greene]

I agree. I think many people believe Canada is superior to the United States when it comes to racism. There is definitely a widespread belief that Canada does not have a problem, making it harder to make changes.

[Cyril]

Agreed… mainstream media is a HUGE (re)generator of racist ideas.

[Lucas]

Dismantling this troubling reality requires acknowledging and engaging with the truth of our history, however, it’s very painful and upsetting to see the racial violence that is part of the foundation of this province and this nation. Until we shine a light on it, we deny the opportunity to dismantle, repair, and heal.

[Cyril]

Absolutely! In the words of Aaron Neville – “Tell it like it is.” 🎼

I wonder though… once the truth is publicly acknowledged, do the contradictions and cognitive dissonance continue (albeit with more strategic language and token gestures of doing good)? 🤔

In addition to knowing the truth… what are the consequences/responsibilities/opportunities of reconciliation grounded in justice?

Would we sacrifice our careers, our benevolent vision of self and the comfortable self-assumption that we are empowering the oppressed rather than being a part of greater repression?

If acknowledging the truth puts people on the line, what does it look like when they have to walk on that (politically correct) tight rope?

Power influencers require pressure to be accountable to others and since we all exercise varying degrees of power, I like to reflect on the things that motivate me to do better for others, even when it might be at a personal/professional cost. I think an ultimate truth/reality is recognizing that the liberation of the “other” is fundamental our own liberation.

[Kristina]

And I think Lucas that we need to take the matter of acknowledging and identifying our anti-Black histories into our work beyond just the national and provincial level. We need to examine what specific histories our youth work organizations have in terms of anti-Black racism – like, when when did our org have the first Black participants? Staff? Board Members? How did our rules impact Black communities and how do they continue to? There’s a lot of internal truth telling that needs to happen so that the daily spaces Black youth engage with can become safer for them.

[Kathe]

In considering this question, I wanted to highlight a YouthREX Research Summary that looks at “The Contours of Anti-Black Racism: Engaging Anti-Oppression from Embodied Spaces,” an article exploring embodied experiences of anti-Black racism. (In case you’re not familiar, Research Summaries focus on research findings and how these findings are relevant to youth work practice.)

This research focuses on different layers of anti-Black racism, and how those who are invested in working against anti-Black racism can be implicated in how it operates. The authors identify three understandings of ABR (which complicate and expand our own definitions) by reflecting and sharing their embodied experiences of these understandings: anti-Black racism, or racism directed against Black people, but not experienced by all Black people in the same ways; anti Black-racism, or racism that Black people may perpetuate against one other, which can be connected to the pain of internalized racism; and anti-Black-racism, which combines working against both experiences of ABR. If you have a chance, you can read the complete Research Summary or even the original article (by Martha Kuwee Kumsa, Magnus Mfoafo-M’Carthy, Funke Oba & Sadia Gaasim) on the Knowledge Hub.

These authors use storytelling to illustrate these understandings from their lived experience, and emphasize that self-reflexivity and self-awareness are critical when engaging in anti-oppressive practice. I wonder if/how these understandings of ABR might resonate for others.

[Pat]

Thanks for spelling out the three understandings of ABR in the research Kathe. So much to think about!

[Sean]

I believe that representation matters and does make a difference, so there needs to be more representation at the highest level (prov government/elected officials who can change & influence laws, programs, & services etc). And where all political leaders need to get back to true grass-roots initiatives (‘feet on the ground’, ‘open houses’, etc., utilizing multiple tactics, in an ongoing way to engage).

[Khadijah]

I agree re ‘representation’, Sean, but also evidence would suggest that elevating individual members of a community to a position of power doesn’t necessarily change the way things operate but just provides a nice distraction.

It also seems like politicians have become great at running ‘community forums’ or ‘town halls’ or ‘group consultations’ and they end up being a sort of stall tactic, because we don’t necessarily see these suggestions making their way into policy and practice.

But I don’t really know what the solution to that is! Maybe we just need more of it happening, or maybe we need to fundamentally rework our democracy so that it is, well, democratic.

[Sean]

Well, I am very positive in how I approach things and I believe that elevating individual members of a community to a position of power does mean that change can happen, but the individuals themselves have to be willing to be a true leader and put in the work by engaging properly; it is not about being a ‘distraction’ (yuck, the tone/word ‘distraction’ sounds so gross to put it that way…no one is ever a distraction in my mind).

I think that it is also essential for members of the public to engage, and engage more often when politicians create platforms for different demographics to exchange thoughts & ideas. The work takes effort, and ongoing effort with engagement; this is true for almost anything and everything in life, as I’ve never seen anything come naturally (even talent, such as a sports figures, have to put in work to accomplish their goals & objectives).

Stall tactics, while proving to be frustrating to most (as we all want immediate’ action), doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Perhaps politicians need more tools to work with and perhaps they aren’t savvy to know about the actual work that is being done? – such as this great opportunity provided by YouthREX.

I’ve engaged many times with my local community, and currently sit on an advisory committee and yes frustrations with politicians exist, but if the overall goal/objective is getting accomplished (in whatever manner that may be) then isn’t that a least some positives to continue to go forward with?

We can’t keep dwelling on negatives; we have to take whatever positives exist and run with them.

[Jane]

Something that has really stayed with me in terms of the history of our country is how our very shaping of a nation was built on racism, and our institutions (like schooling, policing) were built as tools of genocide. I had no idea of the history of slavery in Canada and the erasure of that part of our history and the erasure of notable Black Canadians in our history. We had a discussion on the documentary Journey to Justice at work and I had no idea the civil rights struggle was in Canada to the extent that it was and how advances have been relatively quite recent (i.e. I thought that we were more advanced, and a lot of that assumption was because of our reputation as a safe place for American slaves to escape to). It’s given me a lot to think about.

[Teja]

Thank you so much for your comment Jane. I agree with many of your points. I also can attest to not being educated on the history of Black Canadians. Unfortunately, Canada tends to dismiss the harm they have caused marginalized groups but yet claims to be taking a radical approach in ensuring that everyone is given an equal opportunity to succeed. I believe its a bit of a paradox to be trying to make changes to current systemic issues but not addressing the history or the rationale for these implementations in the first place.

[Raven]

Thank you Jane for sharing/recommending the Journey to Justice documentary. Me and my friend recently watched it and it’s so insightful. I wish my school had shown us this years ago!

[Khadijah]

That’s a great point, Jane. We often think racial reality is fundamentally different in Canada than in the US but, of course, these are both settler-colonial nations – only made ‘different’ because of a border, which is itself a form of violence! And it is precisely the fact that we don’t know about racism in Canada that makes racism here so toxic.

I don’t think I ever learnt about slavery in Canada during school either! My friend wrote this article on anti-Black racism in rural Canada that might be of interest, as it does dive into these histories and how they connect to presents: https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/black-lives-matter-in-rural-canada-too

I hadn’t heard about Journey to Justice, but will check it out! Thank you!

[Kayleigh]

I work out of Nova Scotia, so I cannot speak much to the Ontario education system, but I have heard from teachers that there is an unpublished/spoken of “banned book list” for teaching in schools, and many of these are books that discuss topics of race. (I know one example is To Kill A Mockingbird, and possibly the Book of Negroes, as they cited one of the reasons being use of any N-word used to describe Black folks). I wonder what BIPOC folks in this thread think about this sort of censorship to the point of not even addressing topics of race in schools? Is this similar practice in Ontario?

If so, I wonder how little, if any education is happening in schools about race. I certainly never learned about anything from Module One when I was in school, and I think that it is so important that we are not only talking about current topics of race, but learning about our history as well.

[Kathe]

Thank you for sharing the title of the documentary, Jane, and for sharing this article, Khadijah!

[Kelly]

The term “democratic racism” was not something I was familiar with but it resonated with me in the sense that describes the Canadian “style” of racism that is prevalent today. We have established a netting of false myths related to our progress in tackling issues related to race and discrimination while ignoring the facts and trends that permeate the Canadian systems. In addition, we fall back on a false sense of being morally progressive and can often justify examples of racism as off shoot events or explain it as “old canadian notions that are wrong, but not a part of the new “Canadian” identity. These perceptions are dangerous because it allows for our systems to be unchallenged and it justifies the status quo when we only choose to focus on false positive myths.

[Chantal]

Hi Kelly, thanks for sharing your perspective! I definitely agree that within Canada, there is this comparison with other countries, like the U.S., that is used to undermine the real impacts of systemic racism in our society. This tactic often results in the silencing and erasure of Black voices who challenge that system, because racism is ignored or is said to be “over” by many who have the privilege to not think about race.

[Kathe]

Kelly and Chantal, your comments really resonated for me, and brought to mind so many difficult conversations that I’ve had with folks, especially during the Trump presidency. I was also reminded of a blogpost written by a former YouthREX intern, Donovan Hayden, back in 2017, which I’ll also share here: Race in the Trump Era – Coming to Grips with Canada’s Own Racial Past and Present.