Member Abdulai
MemberForum Replies Created
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Utilize research findings as a powerful tool to shed light on the profound impact of anti-Black racism on youth and their families. By compiling and articulating these findings in a clear and accessible manner, we can create awareness and challenge societal norms. Emphasizing the psychological, educational, and socio-economic consequences of systemic racism, this approach serves to debunk myths and misconceptions while fostering empathy and understanding. By sharing this information through various channels, including community forums, educational platforms, and media outlets, we can contribute to a collective effort to dismantle stereotypes and work towards a more just and equitable society for Black youth and their families.
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One simple thing that an individual could do to center Black youth wellbeing in their work is to actively seek and amplify the voices of Black youth. This could involve creating platforms or spaces where Black youth can share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas. It’s important to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue to understand their unique needs and challenges.
For an organization, one simple thing to center Black youth wellbeing could be implementing mentorship programs specifically designed to support Black youth. This could involve pairing them with mentors who share similar backgrounds or have relevant experiences. Mentorship can provide guidance, encouragement, and a sense of connection, fostering a supportive environment for Black youth within the organization.
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One simple thing I can do to center Black youth wellbeing in my work is understand the lives, interests, experiences and challenges of the Black youth I work with from a place of genuine curiosity, without trying to assume everything I experienced at their age is the same as their reality. As an organization, we can learn not only by directly listening to the Black youth we serve but also by incorporating the best practices from other Black-centered organizations, researchers, and training opportunities.
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Anti-Black Racism continues to be a huge problem in Ontario as Black communities in Ontario, as well as the rest of Canada have faced racial inequalities. The black community faces a lot of unequal treatment and discrimination due to the colour of their skin. For example, they have faced an enormous amount of unequal treatment in their school, as well as their place of employment.
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My first thought is that there is a lot of hostility within the Black community toward one another and what it means to be Black. Being born in North America as a Black person versus being born in Jamaica or Nigeria or Grenada etc has different effects on how people see their Black identity and what is a part of that. This can either cause further division among the Black community which then makes it hard to know where you fit in. On the flip side, it could cause celebration of differences which would be best case and focus on our unity as Black people. On top of that, those who are bi-racial may even feel more ostracized or further away from the Black identity they may wrestle with.
My second thought is, this is a life-long process. If I were to encourage my youth in affirming their identity I would help them to know it is lifelong process and comes with struggles and mind-boggling realities but is also very beautiful if we allow ourselves to bloom and see ourselves as valued. Connecting Black youth together in community is great but cannot stop there. We need to intentionally teach youth to work through differences in the way people express their Black identity and not shame people for not living up to certain expectations. How do we teach unity and compassionate care within the Black community? How can we as workers empower Black youth to affirm each other in the face of a world that seeks to put Black people in a box? How can we practice patience with our Black youth as they seek to unpack what it is the live in the joy of being Black while living within a reality that does not always feel joyful?
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I want to create a safe and authentic space for my Black youth by first showing up as authentic in my work, being teachable and a learner. I think it is important to help the youth know their voice is valued and know that they are being cheered on in their journey. In order to center my Black youth well, I have been challenged to learn each of my students for their uniqueness and the individuality they bring to the community they are apart of while helping them to uphold an awareness of lifting up other Black youth around them.
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As mentioned in the module lectures, Canadians tend to assume that they live in a “tolerant, multicultural society” which is incompatible with the reality that Anti-Black racism still occurs in Ontario as well as the rest of Canada. Global and country-wide events can highlight the presence of ABR in Canada, such as how the Black community was the most disproportionately affected by the pandemic, but these temporary bursts of awareness are up against systemic lack of education regarding Anti-Black Racism in schools as well as downplaying or erasing Black contributions to Canadian history.
Learning about racism and slavery in school is framed through more of an
American lens, where Canadian contributions to slavery or racism are
downplayed. An example is how the educational system highlights how Canada was the final
destination of the Underground Railroad, representing freedom, yet no one teaches students about how conditions were so dire for Black people
upon reaching Canada that many returned to the States.Constant comparisons of the Canadian cultural climate to the United States, where Anti-Black Racism is more openly displayed, can also lead Canadians to believe that racism is not present in Ontario or the rest of Canada because it is not displayed as openly or discussed as often as in the States, not realizing that Anti-Black Racism shows up in Ontario in different and sometimes more subtle (yet still systemic) ways. This helps to perpetuate the idea that racism could not possibly exist in a country that claims to be tolerant of all cultures, because “at least we aren’t as bad as the States.”
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Take programming to the spaces where young people are, ensuring it addresses the identified need, and once trust is established introduce them to other services/ service providers beyond their communities.
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I agree that taking the program to the youth would encourage better engagement and hopefully build stronger connections because they feel comfortable.
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As I reflect through the information I’ve learned in this module, I kept going back to our understanding of Black youth disengagement as an organization. We’ll often develop media and outreach campaigns to engage Black youth and their families in our programming. When these efforts do not yield the desired result, I’ve seen my organization draw conclusions without acknowledging the barriers faced by Black youth.
When considering why Black youth and their families are not willing or not ready to engage with our organization, we must reevaluate the lens through which we arrive at conclusions by ensuring to consider personal and intergenerational factors that may impact engagement. As an organization, we can ensure to offer programming that reflects and celebrate Black excellence, we can ensure that our leadership team includes members of the Black community, we can consult with community partners that can help inform best practices … but we must respect boundaries and provide space and time for trust to be built and engagement to flourish. That does not mean taking a passive approach, but rather modifying our approaches when it comes to Black youth to ensure they are feeling safe, included, and celebrated.
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I can continue to be compassionate towards all students including Black youth. I can ensure that they feel supported and provide them with the safe space to open up on issues bothering them. I can provide them with resources across campus that will help them based on what they tell me. My organization can help gather a resource page that I can share with students that will help center Black youth wellbeing.
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I agree that is so important to listen. Then Listen. And Listen again. It’s very easy for one to compare stories or say “yes, I understand”. It is very easy to think that we may know how they feel. It is one thing to empathize but another to think that we know exactly how they feel. Everybody’s lived experience is different and there is not one single experience that has the exact same emotions. Everybody has a past and this past can be filled it trauma and different experiences. These experiences shape and form the way we react to things. It is important to recognize unconscious bias because we cannot assume that we understand the full picture.
I find it very critical to understand that just talking about it isn’t enough. Actions speak louder than words. As mentioned, talking about it can be just like adjusting the band-aid a little bit. That statement cuts deep and has me totally shattered. The fact that talking about it doesn’t at least remove the band-aid makes me feel so upset. This means that the trauma is much deeper than the cut itself. The trauma is also having the band-aid and how it makes that person feel. It is the judgement of the band-aid. Somebody else might feel that the band-aid can be removed, but nobody understands except that person.
I believe that having trust is the first step in having a student open up to me. I understand that I must seek their permission before moving forward on any next steps. Sometimes they just may want to be heard but don’t want my help. Accepting that rejection will take some time to get used to. If somebody trusts me with their story, I’d want to help them and see it to the end. But the end could maybe not involve me. It might not be might part or my position if they don’t want me to help.
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There are two sides to this. Those who have been affected might feel so traumatized that it is hard for them to talk about it and raise awareness. When global events occur like the unfortunate turn of events for George Floyd, then it gives the space and the opportunity for those who tend to shy away from speaking up (but also the opportunity for those who are vocal). Rightfully so, it is important to hear stories to help educate ourselves on what is going on around the world. The other side is those who have never been affected by racism, or not to the same extend as black racism. For this group of people, the lack of education doesn’t help the situation. It is also important to keep in mind that this group of people may not be intentionally choosing to ignore anything, but that they perhaps don’t understand the seriousness and effects it can have. Therefore, while there isn’t one answer, these are some reasons why. It is important for all of us to take a part in moving forward together. It is important to connect in communities like this to learn about what things we didn’t know we needed to know.
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I can be more responsive to the needs of students by sharing the importance of their cultural heritage in the way they learn, play, experience joy, pain and sadness. There is a lack of comprehension about the Black experience in school, as often times this is lumped into one by non-Black individuals. Taking the time to share the historical context of being Black in predominantly White spaces will provide insights on how to change the narrative and behavior towards Black and Brown students in school. Holding others accountable for their actions and ignorance, when they continue to perpetuate racial violence and discrimination especially in our education system.
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As an education program lead for for middle school youth, particularly facilitating programs for children of the Black community, one of the key factors that seem to be overlooked is representation. With hardly any black teachers or positive-relatable influences in the education field, I try to integrate individuals from the Black community to drop into our programs and share their own experiences or contributions to the community. Whether it be Black authors, self-made entrepreneurs or real-estate agents, having this diversity of employment opportunities highlight the different pathways that these students probably never thought of. In short, it inadvertently builds a degree of self confidence.
One thing my organization could do is to probably take more initiative in the social media aspect to create content that will attract more Black youth into our programs. Often times when we stick to conventional advertising methods that seem to satisfy the funders, we often forget the entire purpose of the initiative.
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One thing I can do is help center Black youth in their story telling for our mental health presentations. I help coordinate structured mental health presentations for other youth. Part of this structure includes sharing personal stories. I think an important thing to do is help create an environment where Black youth feel safe and comfortable sharing their lived experiences with Anti-Black racism. Sharing these stories can help build a sense of community and belonging. Furthermore, creating safe spaces to share such stories allows others from different backgrounds to become aware of the intricacies this community faces, and reflect on how they can become a better ally.
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One simple thing I can do in my practice to center Black Youth Wellbeing, is to integrate more presentations, speakers, mentors and educational content that is created and presented by BIPOC community members themselves. This will allow BIPOC youth in schools to see and learn from more dynamic and relatable people and experiences and help replace solely white-based teachings with those that represent all student populations in a meaningful way and amplify voices that have not been heard.
One simple thing my organization can do to center Black Youth Wellbeing, is to provide more opportunities, like this one, that educate staff about the history and impacts of Anti-Black racism and provides opportunity for professional development and engagement with tangible resources and strategies to better support BlPOC youth and encourage them to thrive. -
I find majority of the research and data I review measures the disparities and socio-economic factors that impact Black communities, but seldom include opportunity for qualitative data collection to magnify Black voices, perspectives and ideas to help transform our current social and political systems into ones that address Anti-Black racism at its root causes and develop programming that is plentiful, well-funded, and accessible.
I find it frustrating that so many research studies present results that highlight the disparities the Black community experiences, without the context presented in the second module, leaving the context behind the results to seem ambiguous, perpetuating a dialogue that ignores an integral historical context explained in this module. -
Beyond the essential time for reflection and absorbing of the important information learned throughout this course, for my specific role (external comms on social platforms), I want and can do better when it comes to the research/story compiling element of my job. Specifically, working to set aside my biases and assumptions (and the assumptions of my team) before researching or sourcing stories, as that sort of thinking leads to fishing for specific answers and results. While this is often subconscious, I need to be more deliberate about asking without a set answer or pathway in mind – giving real space for feedback, criticism and new ideas, even if it’s not the result we expected or initially imagined. Even if it changes things significantly or alters timelines. Being willing to pivot and adapt if content isn’t resonating, feeling safe, honest, or truly representative is crucial to creating content that makes a space feel genuinely representative and safe, and not tokenizing for Black youth and folks in general. I’m lucky to have special focus groups and interviews with youth from (and outside of) our network coming up very soon, so I will be sure to implement that goal and promise into those sessions.
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One simple thing I can do in my personal and professional roles is to educate others about anti-Black racism, whether it is engaging in deep discussion with others, or directing them to learning resources such as this certificate. I think that there is not enough awareness around this topic, and the myth that anti-Black racism only exists in the States is still quite prevalent here. In my professional role, I think something I can do as an extension to education is to take a look at our interventions and policies and see if there is any inclusion for Black Youth and Families, and whether these interventions and policies are implemented in a culturally sensitive manner. By addressing these systemic issues, it will promote education among staff.
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I think the most important thing to consider when we are designing pathways of inclusion for all is prevention and early intervention in a culturally sensitive way. Right now, many of the interventions and services used are from a colonial and White method, which is can be not only ineffective, but can be damaging to Black Youth and Families. By offering more tailored and holistic early interventions and prevention methods, we will be able to work towards inclusion and success for everyone. It is necessary to include a tailored approach due to the different and multi-layered problems that Black Youth face.
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Something that I’ve noticed in a couple of agencies in their research and collection of data is the lack of disaggregated data that is being collected. If we do not have disaggregated data, it would be difficult to get underneath the surface of social issues such as racism, gender equality, (dis)ability, and other forms of social oppressions.
When engaging in research on Black Youth and Families, the use of disaggregated data is essential as Canadian society perpetuates Black erasure in all different types of spaces, and using that disaggregated data can help bring these issues to the light and we can also use intersectionality to better aid Black Youth and Families in their different experiences that they face.
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I think one of the contributing factors that we see racial inequities and anti-Black racism is due to the attempt to erase Black spaces in not just Ontario, but the rest of Canada. We see this in our education systems where students are not taught the history of anti-Black racism, colonialism, and slavery. We also see the myth that anti-Black racism only exists in the US. If there is “no anti-Black racism” here in Canada, we do not need to address it. If it is out of sight, it is out of mind.
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Anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario because there is a lack of accountability and action to recognize, address, educate about and reconcile the barriers and challenges experienced by the Black community. This is perpetuated by the silencing and invalidation of Black experiences and the continuation of socio-economic factors that oppress Black people and prevent them from thriving. Acknowledging that the socio-political inequities seen in the justice and political system in the USA, are also prevalent in the Canadian systems is an integral first step to breaking a harmful system and rebuilding one that is equitable and supports the success of all citizens. Furthermore, we also must call attention to the gaslighting that occurs in sectors like education and social services where equity-based work seems prevalent, with minimal actionable items in place. Finally, we as individuals must remain reflective, to ensure we are in a place to continuously learn from those at the center of oppression and inequity and be willing to leverage our privilege and make changes to our ways of living to ensure we can actively support members of the Black community to heal and thrive, as dictated by members of the Black community themselves.
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I think proactively designing pathways to inclusion in the youth sector means collaboration and cooperation. It is crucial to collaborate with Black youth who will be participating in services to make sure that their voices and perspectives are heard and understood. This means service providers must proactively go out of their way to seek input and feedback from youth on how they are receiving services. Understanding ways in which services could improve or change in order to meet the needs of more youth or more specific groups. This would actually help youth be an equal voice of their services or treatment delivery they are receiving and would give some agency and autonomy back to them. There is an inherent power imbalance between service users and service providers and to give voice to those who use services would put them in the driver’s seat of their own care.
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This is absolutely powerful. What better way to create something for a group of people when its created WITH that same group of people. It only makes sense to involve the people who it will directly have an impact on. Great sentiments!
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One Simple Thing that I can do is to engage in non-performative advocacy and allyship. I can build relationships with the Black students and Black student-centred groups/organizations on campus – outside of work hours. Listen deeply and with humility. Begin trust building through consistent showing of support in community events and gatherings. Respond to invitations of support by offering my time, services, and/or other resources I may have privileged access to in ways that decenter myself and centers Black youth.
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I found going through the courses in this certificate to be affirming-as workers in this space we are a part of the community as well, and it was great to be refreshed on some areas of knowledge and learn completely new concepts and history. Sometimes just by way of being Black it is expected that we should know what to do or say-and sometimes we don’t. So it was great to have a space to learn about centering Black youth wellbeing, and also having our Blackness as workers supported/affirmed as well.
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This is great! My question to this is how can we encourage Black Youth to provide their feedback and participate? What incentives can be provided? How can we ensure their well-being stays in check during the process. Supports and resources should be offered so that they don’t get overwhelmed and stressed talking if it brings up too much trauma.
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Great points on cultural competency and data driven decisions. It is important for staff to be aware of different cultures so as to desensitize themselves before delving deeper. Having data and making decisions based on that is the key to long lasting solutions.
