I completely agree with your point of view on this question. I love how you emphasized on the fact that white privilege acts are strong factors in this type of thinking or question. It does allow that particular group of individuals to escape difficult, uncomfortable conversations.

Opening Up: Creating Healing Spaces for Young Black Men

I recently finished watching this webinar and I encourage everyone to check it out. It was very insightful and the video by Soch Nwakaeza & Eben Odonkor was very impressive. I feel like it really shed light on the…

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I wanted to open the floor for discussion on a question someone earlier this week asked me. We had a pretty good talk about it, so I just felt it would be nice to share with the group and see if others have any insight they would like to share regarding this particular question. 🙂

Question: Is the phrase “I don’t see colour” a positive or negative

Self reflection is key and very important in any work being done with and for Black youth.

Very true, yet very sad. The fact of our country being built of who is more superior than another definitely ties right into the reasons why this is a problem. For decades black people seem to have been at the bottom of every list in this country.

Great goal Shelly 👍🏾

We can not be shy, quite or afraid of making others uncomfortable when it comes to anti black racism anymore. We need to be open to have these uncomfortable discussions, especially our educators.

I’m reflecting on the ways in which my workplace can better encourage people of colour to seek our treatment services. I work at a youth treatment center where we provide youth with therapeutic/basic needs. I am definitely open to suggestions others may have on how I can take part in encouraging Black youth to become more engaged in these programs.

That sounds like a great task to implement in your daily routines. Self reflection is key to self awareness. At this time I don’t know of any self reflective workbooks, but I will for sure look out for them and share with the group. 🙂

Wow I commend your openness and willingness to be so truthful and expressive. That was definitly an eye opening statment you made there about self reflection. It’s very true, it’s one thing to speak on racism in other parts of society, but to actually take a step back and reflect it back onto ourselves is a whole different story and…

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Something I just wanted to highlight from the organization that I work at. They recently conducted a one time focus group for the clients in our live in treatment center to get a clear understanding of what the actual clients would benefit from in all aspects of the organization. I felt that this was a great example of that whole concept…

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Well said Mercedes, everything you’ve stated needs to be better implemented and mentioned to our younger generations. Their mindset aren’t like other generations; the things we may think they don’t understand or know about, their very much aware of because their experiencing it more and more every day. Educationally, our roots need to be…

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https://cinefam.ca/blog/five-questions-for-nadine-valcin/

I wanted to share a quick clip called “Whitewashed”. This clip sort of answers that question on how research findings can help highlight and challenge the impact of anti-Black racism on black people as a whole. Through this clip Nadina V used an accumulation of research findings to…

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You made such great points. From your opinion I really took in your third point on creating these safe spaces for black people to express themselves and open up more, but to also follow that up with action or it would have all been for nothing. It just seems like sometimes we allow youth and their families to open up but then not even a little…

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Yes simply put. If no one believes theres a problem to begin with then they will see no need to change their ways or the world around them.

I really like the way you put that; Growth, Education and Self work! Great reflections. These aspects should be a responsibility for the frontline and individual levels.

Definitely agree with you Jenny, redefining success would be a great start. Also I really like your point of having more conversations about the challenges black youth with disabilities face.

Great insight! I definitely believe that simply getting the opinion of black youth and their families around working with other races will demonstrate to them that you are aware of the daily struggles they may deal with through their interactions with other races.

Thank you for sharing your insight from your course Victoria. I really like those options of change you shared, but it’s also great to hear that the Child and Youth program is implementing those types of discussions for students to engage in, as this is critical when coming into these types of fields and working with a diverse population.

Of course, actively listening to the stories that are shared with us from youth and their families is very important. I feel like it’s also important to praise them and acknowledge their strength and trust to share such vulnerable experiences.

Thank You Judah for sharing your experience. Distinguishing intent vs impact is very important, as you proven from your experience. It’s sometimes even hard to tell if others have good intentions when they make comments like that or if there’s something underlying. This is a perfect example of the importance of reflecting on the comments we…

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Hi Amanda,

I really liked your point on incorporating black history and experiences into the early schooling system, especially with the benefit of allowing them to implement that knowledge into their everyday lives.

👍🏾 Agreed! Having communities create and facilitate programs rather than the government will allow more flexibility to the services and actually reflect the needs of that particular population.

I love this idea of implementing classroom programs to allow the youth to properly express themselves by giving them a safe space to be who they are, without fear. Something like this could very much aid in black youth becoming their own leaders. It can allowed them to gain leadership skills, facilitation skills and social skills.

I agree with…

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I 100% agree with everything you have said Cale.

Many organizations that portray themselves as contributing to anti black racism approaches at the end of the day don’t really have anything actually within their programs to reflect that fact. It comes to my mind again about how some of these organizations talk the talk for ministry guidelines,…

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Hi Victoria,

Great to hear that, that’s something your program is already practicing. I agree, it is critical to incorporate active listening skills when working with black individuals and allowing them to share their experience.

Implementing strength based approaches would be a great first step as this type of approach is able to offer control to the person and give them a new mindset.

Fantastic insight!

I agree. I also believe that the evidence clearly shows there must be a large number of racist individuals who have such power and control within these systems, in order for this mistreatment to even be able to follow through.

Fantastic question Mitch.

👏 Preach!

I believe that’s what makes it so easy for people now a days to completely ignore racism or believe that every human being is actually free from discrimination and prejudice. It’s the simple logical fallacy of appeal to ignorance; lack of so called “evidence” (cause they don’t want to provide any) means that it doesn’t exist. Which…

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💯 True

Really like your point on there being “amplifications that have occurred through online platforms, where racist vitriol finds its echo chamber to manifest through anonymized hatred”.

YES! There needs to be a drastic change in the ways in which black individuals are portrayed in our media. Media platforms are now held to such importance in the lives of young black people. What they witness in various media platforms is how they construct their behaviour and opinions of themselves and the world around them.

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

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…

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*claps* Well said!

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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For sure! The mental health stigma within black communities strongly need to be addressed. Black youth especially are provided little to no support in relation to their mental health because of such prejudice thoughts on black individuals and their mental health.

I strongly agree Tarena, black representation is a key factor in even encouraging other black individuals to participate in any type of change. Black youth especially, are so afraid of being let down or ignored by those who oppressed them that it now needs to be someone who is closely apart of their community and a clear representation…

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Georgina, your comment really allowed me to throughly think about all the experience I’ve had within the mental health/social service felid. I feel like many services almost provide programs and changes towards black youth either has a ministry accomplishment or as a check box and once that box is checked, it’s as if the duty and…

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Hi Mike, I really value your point on how black youth need to be compensated for their involvement in various services and programs, as this is one of many issues individuals within black communities face; lack of financial support. Due to the lack of income within black communities it is so common for these youth to look towards illegal…

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Definitely! Well said Andri

The educational system in general needs a lot of work in regards to setting up black youth to actually succeed in life, once they leave. It’s sad, the suspension and drop out rates are way to high within the black community

Hi Jenny, thank you for sharing your opinion and experience. It can feel so frustrating to read/see the research and data that clearly demonstrates these various types of discrimination and racism towards black youth, families and within their communities.

I completely agree, yes the data is right there for all of the world to see, yet…

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So agree Sureka, I’m always here for promoting awareness. I believe awareness is key in achieving any type of change or shift in the barriers that black youth, families and their communities face.

I also really appreciate your point reflecting back on the lectures and how they stated that one size does not fit all. I believe that, that is also…

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Glad to hear that the lectures from this platform allowed you to reflect on the impact that reconstructing the criminal justice system, as well as others, can have on the Black communities.

The lectures also helped me reflect on different ways in which my workplace can better support these high rates of Black Youth within the various government systems.