Member Young
MemberForum Replies Created
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I Just Wanna Live! Title says it all, too many people existing in this world, not enough people thriving and living. Survival is not a way of life, one chooses, it’s imposed!
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I have found that it is very crucial to have qualitative analysis in research to address and highlight the negative impact of anti-Black racism on the communities. However, I do not think having the only scholarly research finding is enough to highlight the current anti-Black racism influence on youth and their families. I found there is more need to use social media and create webinars to acknowledge the existence of racism toward Black people. I found allyship is very crucial.
It is very important to be aware of creating possible stereotypes and misinterpreting the Black population during the research.
I have found digitalizing the barriers that each Black youth experiences will help to address the impact and challenges of anti-Black racism in the community.
It is very important to include a comfortable and safe space for Black youth to express their difficulties and feelings. More researches should be addressed for the anti-Black racism in society and be aware of creating the possible prejudice toward the Black population. It is important to include more perspectives from the Black youth and put less influence on the researchers’ perspectives.
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As a social work student, I have learned that there are many systematic barriers that the practitioners and program developers do not address much to interact with the Black youth.
By referring to the webinar called “Engaging youth expertise in substance use program and policy development” I have participated in last week, I have found that many of the service providers focus more on the intakes and requirements to enter the program which disengages with youth.
I suggest instead of keep adding new information for the services, it is better to put more effort to engage with youth and try to make a program in youth’s standard.
I have learned that many youths disengage from the program because of its difficulty and having less inclusion for diversity.
I think all practitioners need to start being aware of the influence of intergenerational trauma on Black youth. The practitioners must understand the youth’s trauma and oppression to engage with them.
I think in order to go beyond the systematic oppression that Black youths are facing, I found it is important to gain trust through having communication and show humanity.
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Anti-black racism remains a prominent concern in Ontario because of the historical violence against black people stemming from colonialism and slavery. Anti-black racism is embedded within our institutions and everyday practices. It is manifested in every aspect of our social systems (education, justice, healthcare) and is often implicit in policies that serve to disadvantage black people while reinforcing white supremacy. This is exactly why representation is so important. To even attempt to change institutions, we need to start with black representation and voices in positions with decision making authority.
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In my opinion anti-Black racism is still a problem because Canadians as a whole are in denial of its existence and lack the education to better understand the complexity of it. When I was in school we were taught the “myths” of the Black community, as in Canada saved the slaves. When in fact we were never properly informed that Canadians too were slave owners and that Canada attempted to erase their heritage. To move forward together we must acknowledge the atrocities done onto the black community and begin educating our children from a young age so that they become informed citizens as opposed to grow in ignorance to anti-Black racism. It should no longer be acceptable to be “tolerant” of the black community. Our leaders must pave the way and begin educating in elementary school, which is often contradictory to the opinions of Canadians that oppose government action to address this issue. There have been many studies pertaining to this issue but very little done to address the findings. This vortex of ignorance will continue if the findings of the numerous studies are not addressed.
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Wow! Well said Erika.
I 100% agree with this. We have to start educating our children from a young age on the TRUTH about our history. What has and still is going on in this world to get them better equipped for certain situations they will encounter. They need to acknowledge that their only doing our youth harm when they try to hide and cover up the truth.
You stated your opinion very beautifully.
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One simple thing that I could do to center Black youth wellbeing at my school would be to start a Black Youth Voices Matter @ * * SS group. My first step will be to invite the Black “elders” in the school to be a part of the creation/facilitation process, if they are able and interested.
I have many ideas but I think that I will take a step back and follow the Ten Good Practices for Supporting Black Youth Mental Health starting with Listen, Listen and Listen! My hope is that this will be a “By Students, For Students” initiative.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Thanks for sharing your plan for a Black Youth Voices Matter group, Harold. Such a good idea! Yes, getting youth involved from the beginning of the planning and listening to them is key to success. If you are interested, you can ask YouthREX to pull together an evidence brief on best practices on setting up youth groups for BIPOC youth. Preparing customized evidence briefs is one of the cool services that YouthREX offers Ontario’s youth sector. You can schedule a 1-on-1 call with the Knowledge Mobilization team: https://youthrex.com/get-in-touch/. Hope you will stay involved in this CoP and share lessons from developing the Black Youth Voices group – both things that worked and things that did not work that well. Good luck!
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This weeks module was really great ,I found it to be incredibly informative and real. One thing that really resonated with me was to actively listen and believe Black youth. We can not combat anti-blackness in Ontario without first acknowledging and believing Black experiences.
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Hi Gera,
It’s great to hear that you felt the recent modules were informative and brought realness. I completely agree with you on that!. Black voices continuously get shut out or ignored and their stories/experiences aren’t taken into account. Your point is so true, in order to actually combat anti black racism we need to start by believing in our black youth.
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From personal experience and research, I believe that anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario because our nation systemically believes that racism here is “non-existent” and that Canada is a welcoming “melting pot” of culture. This nation’s belief that Canada accepting of multiculturalism has ingrained itself into the policies that operate our province.
Historically, our nation has always denied its strong legacy of colonialism, oppression, and marginalization of BIPOC communities. Why Canada remains willfully blind to this history is something that I’ve always about especially since when speaking about racism, it is often referred to as an American issue, not a Canadian one.
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Great point! Because we scapegoat here in Canada with zero accountability with several turkeys that have Talking heads. The Blame game / “peace keeping” I suppose is the very mosaic that makes “Canada” a indigenous name but the colonizers claim!
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Because policymakers are doing very little to dismantle it, people still operate under the notion that it does not exist and refuse to address or call it what it is when it takes place.
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Well said Efe,
That’s very true!
Unfortunately policymakers do have an important role in combating anti black racism, yet choose to ignore the signs and continue to operate in that manner. Them having such power and control it should have a bigger responsibility to think and behave in a way that will protect people of colour in all aspects.
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Volunteer Opportunity:
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The Coalition for Racial Equity in Education Project is recruiting Parents/Guardians and Highschool Students. Participants will receive advocacy workshops and leadership training within the education system, assist with coordinating events aimed to increase public awareness about racial inequities, implement solutions in education, and support various community-based campaigns for racial-justice related educational policy change.
Register Online. Deadline: April 1, 2021
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Trust needs to be established first since the Modules and research has shown that service sectors has done more harm than good. This can be done through strength-based approaches and intersectional advocacy strategies.
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This is continued from my last post on this page.
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Even just this question feels revolutionary – to think of that future and the youth who exist in it is so beautiful. For me it conjures reminders of being trauma informed but healing CENTERED.
Some of the ideas that really stuck with me from this module include not relying just on inclusive ‘mainstream’ programs but creating race-based experiences that allow for the development of a strong ethnic-racial identity (https://youthrex.com/evidence-brief/eight-good-practices-for-organizations-serving-black-youth-their-families/)
Also engaging multi-generational family members (lesson 3.3) – I think I’ve really been downplaying the role of family in my practice, with the goal of centering the autonomy and inherent rights of the youth as an individual (honestly mostly in response to white helicopter parents). This has been a form of anti-Black racism because I haven’t been honouring the structures of Black families and the role of our youth’s community. This is a big shift for me that I know will help me support pro-actively the success of Black youth!
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Absolutely, Kristina! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Another resource that came to mind outlines 10 strategies for engaging in political consciousness-raising with Black youth, including connecting the personal to the political, emphasizing and celebrating Black excellence, and promoting engagement through healing-centred organizing.
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“Move at the speed of trust”… so much wisdom in this advice! Thanks for sharing, Kristina.
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Rather than *just* advocating FOR Black youth I should say…
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Hello, Katarina
I have checked the factsheet you have shared in your post.
I found it is very very helpful to how to engage with youth who are using cannabis. I agree that fearing the youth to use cannabis and making abstinence-based drugs are not helpful for the treatment.
However, I started to wonder how should I tell the youth if they want to know what could be the possible outcomes if they overuse the cannabis.
I remember when I was in my second year, I was writing a paper about cannabis usage. I could not find many negative outcomes by using cannabis except that may harm one’s memory and brain, but the research could not find the direct evidence for it.
Thus, I remember that some youth argue that there are no negative outcomes for using cannabis. I am sure there will be more researches looking for the potential outcomes for cannabis, but I could not find them yet.
It is very interesting that cannabis is less addictive than any other substance and people often think cannabis is safer use. However, overuse of cannabis can harm one’s health even though detailed research has not proven cannabis’s negative outcomes yet.
I think there should be more harm reduction approach for cannabis use. It is important to provide a healthy alternative for youth to prevent addiction.
Thank you,
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As an openly Transgender teacher, it’s surprising what you hear from colleagues, that claim that they have sat with themselves and checked their privilege. I reflect almost everyday on how the system is still positioned for my success being a white man. My transition, really drove home my privilege and amplified it as I became a man. This process will never be over and the fight to dismantle the education system has just been scratched on the surface. Everyday is reflection and work to change the outcomes for my students.
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Well said!
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I very much agree that while a lot of us are challenging and making attempts at dismantling ABR on an individual, and/or at best organizational level, the mission of achieving a true racism-free service sector would not be complete without the cooperation of fighting this battle on an institutional and systemic level.
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I’m definitely picking up on the theme from multiple responses here about including the frontline workers and youth in creating a true inclusion. This echoes really well with many ideas presented in this module, particularly “listening”, “empowerment” and “advocacy”. While everyone, black or not, can bring something to the table, it can definitely be considered “tone-deaf” when the stories and input from the black communities are not being heard in the process of dismantling systemic anti-black racism.
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And Bam sir there you have it! I appreciate the elaborative context in which you presented it! My statement was that of a first hand experience stemming from birth til this day! My wishes are that we unify to actually demand these changes now so that we can truly discuss change and what “changes” affect our lives in a positive way. It is at this point that the denial of these complexed barriers , denials and further denial of existence to Afro indigenous peoples that stands before them in human flesh.
If I a young adult mother can feel this imagine all the youth I’ve worked with, encountered or even passed by … how must they feel with all this burden on them … so vulnerable, innocent yet packaged and prejudged. I was one of those adults who wasn’t taught the system rather to be a free thinker. It has gotten me labeled , dismissed from jobs like garbage, I’ve had program ideas and documentary film ideas stolen from me by some of this cities most respected yet I remain the problem? These narratives must change …
My son is gifted… I sent him to French immersion for his first 4 years which actually was detrimental to him. Let me explain , here in Canada the French immersion system although public it is still separate. He had a Parisienne teacher who was not only stern but downright racist. It ruined his experience leading him to start “misbehaving” to a level they called George Hull, we went through that and George Hull said my son was completely fine but suffering grief (from loss) and quite frankly stressed. Now we go through Middle School non immersion and he’s getting A’s , teachers giving rave reviews then his father dies of a heart attach at 35 … here we go again not only is this his loss it’s a loss to a piece of my unsettled healing as well. So we scaffold all these recollections and as mother and son are expected to wear masks to show sanity to the world when we are literally dying inside. Highschool hits the behaviors become more amplified and expulsion because of attendance happens they send him to a remedial school he’s bored with and completes tasks in seconds with high honor. The school is much further and more difficult for him to get too abd no transportation provided another burden on a single parent mother making ends meat. It’s these stories we keep in and they never get heard or spoken off… It was also not to long ago I was racially profiled with my son while leaving a funeral for a family member -only to be targeted 8 guns to my face and my son being thrown to the floor like a rag doll with a knee very close to the neck apologizing to me for something he never did! This is bold and blatant systemic racism hidden by “Canada the great” !!!
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Also, this module contained a lot of research about the Black communities experience in various service sectors. By referring to research and other strength-based approaches like the “Intersectional and Advocacy Strategies” will help with creating the changes needed in service sectors.
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Greetings Alexis – Yes, Boldness is necessary to promote change.
As I reflect on your statement, I think about the many laws that were founded to protect the property and entitlement of a few instead of justice for the people… and “justice” seems to only be blind towards the trespassers who have access and privilege (with the exception of making examples of people who fall out of line).
Systemic (intentional and ongoing coordination based on resourced special interests) injustice is protected by colonial culture… the old narrative that the power brokers are “civilized, polite and doing everything for the greater good” and those who are under that power are either “noble” (obedient) or “savages” (disruptive) who endanger everyone if not controlled. It is a contradictory idea that is present in formal institutions and our daily interactions in this dehumanizing culture.
Even to suggest that organized repression should be attacked can create anxiety for many people – but not fear of the great harm caused by this repression, but fear of the protesters and advocates of justice. For instance, many Black women who are consistently innovating, organizing and building a better world are underestimated, devalued and sabotaged routinely… even for advocating for justice for children in a school setting… but the school system is given time and resources and Black parents are left with the weight of battling not only that school but all the institutions and cultural judgments surrounding it. Therefore, someone who is (in essence) only Defending their rights is in turn Attacked by this system of culture and institutions (and pre-judiced individuals) and framed to be the aggressor.
It is bold to take a stance against insidious issues because there are real consequences for those who stand.
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This whole thread is really helpful – thanks for starting this conversation! I love the link between supporting the voice AND preparing space for that voice. So critical. We’ve been doing that background work of making sure our internal processes and spaces are safer when Black youth participate.
