Member Virginia
MemberForum Replies Created
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I think it stems down to getting youth input. Surveying and asking black youth what programs they feel are needed and that they will use that they feel are beneficial. In this module, we learn about listening and hearing what youth have to say instead of imposing our biases on them. With listening, we retract the need to share our experiences, which can take away from the youth’s experiences. Also, listening would allow us as youth workers to hear what program could be beneficial to the black youth population. Implementation is a big part. We can create all these programs but we need to make them attractive for black youth to use them and understand how they can benefit from them.
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I feel as if more research needs to be done and completed. I remember taking a research class last semester and I did my research topic on black LGBTQ+ youth in Canada, and I remember searching for articles and it was a very small pool of peer-reviewed articles that I had to choose from. I think more qualitative research needs to be done with black youth. This module mentions how black youth resort to social media influence and that hyper-masculinity, as that’s what they know and can almost rely on, because those black professionals who are successful don’t go back and explain their journey. I think by having more qualitative data, researchers could dive deep into what these black youth are specifically looking for when it comes to role models and breaking stigmatization when it comes to being black and breaking barriers, exploring options to better themselves.
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I think an important factor when it comes to re-imagining our work with young people and their communities to provide a healing-centred practice would be more promotion of resources within the community. Not a lot of communities know or fully understand the resources that are in their neighbourhoods or what funding is available for them to access resources. These resources and or community resources need to go into schools, workplaces, etc. to speak about their services and how to use them. What I found in my family was that there is generational trauma that is passed down and nobody likes to acknowledge and talk about mental health and how to get help. I was hesitant about going to therapy at school, but after finding a good therapist, I found it to be an amazing tool to use and to work through my traumas. Sometimes the stigmatization of things can be a barrier for people until they try them themselves. Circling back to promotion in schools, I think this would give young people the opportunity to ask questions without a family/caregiver’s influence and allow privacy for them to explore resources in a non-judgmental way.
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I feel as if anti-black racism remains a significant and troubling reality in Toronto because the various different groups within society don’t take the time to educate themselves and run with social media or news headlines. I also feel Ontario or Canada in general doesn’t take the time to have individuality, in the sense of being our own culture. I feel as if most things are mimicked from the states and that gets us nowhere. With the emulation of what is happening in the states, I feel as if people don’t know exactly what they are fighting for or why they are protesting. After taking this first module and hearing the history and actual definition of terminology, I feel as If I am more equipped to make stand-by statements. During the module, it mentions how the wrong groups (ex. White people) bring up issues that someone who is black has been speaking on and white people tend to follow the leader with a white leader to get on board with discussing issues and “trying to make change”. I think these modules need to be taught within the school system to help educate staff and students on what is actually happening and broken down into languages they can understand. I think adding this type of content would allow black students to recognize their stake and how they can overcome the stigma.
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One simple thing my agency could do, and is effort of doing, is more training. We also have a Black African Carribean Canadian team that advocates for the youth and their community.
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I believe that hiring more black individuals would allow for more diversity and inclusion, and a sense of safety for black youth. I also believe that training non-black individuals on black individuals history, current struggles etc. will support positive change.
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At my current work place, we are working on gathering previous data on strategies in hopes that this will support our youth. It is very important to remember the past and allow for voices of black youth and their families to be heard.
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The dismantling of anti- Black racism requires a collective approach. Social professionals and Black youths must work together to implement strategies to support Black youth and their families. Black youths are experts of their own experiences. Therefore, their knowledge and lived experiences are key for their betterment. However, for betterment to occur we must deodorize our colonial teachings. Additionally, we must implement an anti-oppressive, cultural appropriate and holistic framework to care.
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How can we work towards dismantling anti-Black racism in Canada?
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I believe anti-Black racism still being a problem in Ontario can be owed to individuals in privileged groups. It is evident that society’s dominant class thrives on the privilege they possess, having easy access to high income jobs and overall better treatment in social institutions. For people outside of the dominant class, society has this preconceived notion that they are to blame for the society’s downfalls, such as, high crime rates and high unemployment rates. This is an unfair depiction of folks in minority groups, for it is clear that they are being exploited by the dominant class. Individuals in dominant classes depend on the downfall of people in minority groups to ensure that they remain in a high socio-economic position in society. The answer to this question is an upsetting overview of the reality of Ontario’s systemic abuses.
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It is clear that the systemic interlocking of oppression and privilege contributes to why anti-black racism is an ever-present aspect in Ontario. I believe that individuals in more privileged/dominant groups are exploiting minority groups to advance in society. There are people in the “dominant class” who will work diligently to retain their privilege as it gives them access to high-income jobs and social institutions. In my opinion, when there are dominant groups such as these, it makes it easier to glorify them, at the expense of people in minority groups, further demonizing them in society. While people in privileged groups are seen as the model citizen, society has a preconceived notion towards minority groups, associating them with high crime rates, unemployment rates, and other disparities. The answer to this question is an upsetting overview of the reality of systemic abuses within Ontario.
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Despite decades of research and escalating evidence of racial inequities anti-Black racism remains a significant and troubling reality in Ontario because the laws that governs are rooted in whiteness. Additionally, Black People continues to be disproportionately marginalized systemically.
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I do agree with you. I also believe the intergenerational trauma has a huge effect on our current youth as well, therefore continuing the cycle.
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I agree, systemic violence towards Black individuals are leading to the disparities they face in society.
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One thing that I will continually do to maintain focus on implementing and improve outcomes for Black youth is ADVOCACY. Marginalized youth not only lacks resources but too often they have no one to speak on their behalf resulting in further marginalization and dehumanizing experiences.
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One simple thing we could do to center Black youth wellbeing in our work and organization is to provide them with access to mentorship, resources, and guidance that can help them reach their goals.
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I believe it has a lot to do with the stories that were told about blackness, which were then used to form the institutions and systems in which we all work and live. These stories of blackness can be traced back to slavery and colonization, which were often used to create racialized narratives that divide, marginalize, and oppress Black people. This further leads to a lack of opportunity for Black people to have equitable access to resources, financial stability, education, and employment opportunities in a society that rewards the idea of whiteness as the dominant narrative. That is why anti-black racism is so prevalent in our world today, and why we must make the conscious effort to recognize and challenge the oppressive systems that have built upon those stories of blackness.
@RyanField Love your illustration and analysis!
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The first thing that came to my mind was baking, especially for someone who’s not a great baker like me (I see Andrew had also pitched the idea). Evaluation is like learning how to bake. You never know where it can go wrong but you learn and better along the way!
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Anti-black racism is still unfortunately very present within our world and educational system. Although we are now discussing it more than ever, it is important for us to learn, educate and create systems of equality within our everyday spheres and institutions. The youth need to feel heard and safe in terms of the issues they encounter. (I am a graphic artist and attached an illustration)
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Hi Ryan! I agree with you in the sense that although discussions are important, action is what’s necessary to dismantle anti-Black racism. Your illustration is beautiful!
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I’m looking forward to using this in the school setting for our morning music in February where we exclusively centre Black identifying artists during Black History and Heritage Month.
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This is incredible – thank you!!
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ABR will continue to be an issue in Ontario until it is addressed and not ignored. No where in school is the history of Black people in Canada taught, when I reflect back on my school days I do not remember learning anything about Black people or how they came to Canada. Also socialization by whiteness, runs so deep that ABR and micro aggressions go unnoticed.
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What I have been doing and will continue to do in my organization is engaging in conversations that focuses and highlights on Black Excellence.
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To reach the widest variety of internal and external viewership, you
must follow your target audience to their preferred social media to hit
their demographic. For instance many younger youth are utilizing tiktok
at the moment so you would want to utilize tiktok as well so when other
youth share your evaluation findings it is being shared directly to the
age demographic you are looking for. -
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.
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Agreed–and then whenever there are ABR initiatives, they get sub-summed by ‘EDI’ and the needs of other groups are prioritized.
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I agree with both sentiments that the continued denial of anti-black racism in Canada, combined with individual ignorance and complacency, allow this type of racism to keep its stronghold on our minds. Yes, the education system doesn’t support learning these histories–but based on the module, why would it? I think that there is an element of complacency among dominant races because they live in the privilege and freedom of ignorance. It does not even occur to them to look for these histories. When they learn the history, they say “I choose to believe…” So now there is no objective truth that we all share? TL;DR: white supremacy and colonization
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I really like the idea of ‘staying present’. In the sense that this is ongoing and continuous work, and does not stop with one workshop or certificate. The notion of staying present is also quite powerful as Black youth are surrounded by microagressions 24/7, they don’t get to ‘turn off’ their blackness, and as a white practitioner, I have the responsibility to be present/aware 24/7 as well.
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Thank you for sharing this.
There are so many great resources with this training. This is one of the things I am thankful for with this training, is the learning that can continue even with the time ending.
