To my new found allies: Reinvent the wheel please!!!!
To all the people who want to be called Allies. Thank you for finally waking up in 2020. Maybe it was the Pandemic that created time for you to listen more attentively to what was rocking the World or Perhaps there was really just nothing else better to do? You became aware of “Police Brutality” and how it was so blatant and horrifying in the video showing the killing of George Floyd. This Video truly upset and shocked you into awakening your moral compass. The sad reality is that your moral conscience should have been jarred into an awakened state a long time ago, because before George Floyd there were several victims of racially based police brutality, like Rodney King, Oscar Grant, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Akai Garley, Sandra Blland, Tamari Rice, Philando Castilo,Trayvon Martin and Brennan Taylor. If the sheer number of victims is overwhelming for you, can you imagine how overwhelming and frustrating it is, first for the victims and then for those who are fighting against racism.
This is a painful process, one filled with anger and frustration. Chances are, this is why many have avoided the conversation, because it takes bravery and courage and an openness to new perspectives. I went to school during a time when people thought that having a “multicultural night”, where different cultures were asked to celebrate their uniqueness by costume, dance and food. This was supposed to represent inclusivity and therefore racism was said to be no more. What was seldom noticed, but was always present, was the fact that only those aspects of the different cultures was allowed that did not offend the Euro-Centered sensibilities. In all fairness to my school, this was the lie we were sold by our Canadian government, namely, Come to Multicultural Canada, we don’t have any of the race issues our neighbours have to the South. How was this ignorant message perpetuated? In large part by our education system. In grade 6 I was learning in my history class about the “discovery'' of Canada. I thought everything was fine, till I went home to study for my test, I innocently asked my dad to quiz me, he did and then took the opportunity to fill in all the blanks, like about the cultural genocide of our Indeginious People, with a particular emphasis on “The Residential Schools”, where a very conscious effort was made to eradicate anything that did not reflect the European Cultures. I had never heard anything about this injustice. So on the test date I finished up my test early and then eagerly flipped it over to show-off my new found knowledge, assuming my teacher would be impressed by me. Well, when we got our test back, she gave back everyone’s, then paused before giving me mine, by diving into a “snowflake monologue”, about how she was proud that her ancestors (European) came to Canada, and about how they “made good” no matter what the odds were. I was ridiculed in front of the entire class. I was taught my lesson, “shut up and put up with it”. It's interesting how in 2020 the Education system will come full circle, trying to educate our teachers on how to truly not be Racially biased, and to learn the consequences of “White Privilege”.
I recently went to a teacher conference where we were learning about residential schools, many teachers bravely admitting they went through their entire education without knowing these existed. I just sat there baffled, trying not to obviously shake my head. So, don’t get me wrong, let me state very clearly, I’m very happy new people want to be allies against racism,and to prove my joy I’ve been bombarding my colleagues with information regarding white privilege, so we all understand the term and don’t get too scared straight out at the start of the “marathon”, cause ending racism isn't a sprint. Racism has been going on for centuries, heck countries were built off it, including our beloved Canada. Did Canada practise Slavery? Yes, Canada has had that for close to 200 years of it.
I guess I should trust the future of education now that things are out in the open, but that kind of faith is not easy, because of the lessons learned about white Privilege and racial injustice. I pushed myself into reading and researching everything I could about”equity”, because my teachers weren’t teaching it, they were reciting old lessons that did not reflect me or any other non white culture. I witnessed my father go for countless interviews for high school Religion teaching positions with not only a teachers degree, but, with his Masters of Divinity, from the University of Toronto. The very same degree your parish priest holds; it took him 8 years of “supply Teaching”, during a time when other people were being hired right out of teacher’s college. I guess he did not “look the part”, thanks to, or is it no thanks to “White Privilege”.
Because my high school experience was so disappointing and lacking in critical knowledge of everything beyond Europe and white male leaders.There was nothing but same old Martin Luther King jr ideas of him having a dream, which has been saturated in white washing making him acceptable to teach, hence no Malcolm X. I remember being in gr.11 Law class, employment equity was just being introduced in Canada. This gr. 12 student in my class, who was the head of the PC youth group, argued vehemently, that it was unfair to be giving jobs away to racialized people, just because of their skin colour. I put my hand up as one of the only racialized people in class and said to her, why are you assuming they aren't as qualified?! My class erupted in claps, not necessarily because they agreed with me, but just because the girl was finally speechless.This was as close to a discussion on race that we got.
In the English class we read “Black Like Me, and I didnt understand why we had to read about a white man that decided to change his colour, were Black people not writing????
Because I experienced it on a daily basis, I became exhausted with our outdated curriculum and teachers that chose ignorance and corney multicultural events to prove they were not racist. My advice about multicultural events is that they do nothing to get rid of the racism we feel everyday from the stale Euro-centered lessons we are taught in class and society. Teachers who most often are ignorant of racism, or simply choose not to see it, choose not to “reinvent the wheel”,and just reuse old lessons where students’ can study a smattering of people, the same every year. For example, Terry Fox represented - disabled, box checked! Rosa Parks, 2 boxes female and black.
“Sorry, I don’t want to reinvent the wheel”. The amount of times I hear this in the halls of education, is unbelievable!!!! You are in a career that is all about reinventing, and re-inventing is about learning. A student would not be allowed to hand in a history textbook as his essay and say “I didn't want to reinvent the wheel”. I personally think that some teachers need to have higher expectations for themselves and therefore their students. Now, it is true that in all careers you get your lazy people, but can we afford to have those in education? Please excuse me if i'm a bit fired up, because this is not necessarily a white thing, its a white supremacy thing, it's about “White Privilege”; my mentors in my education career were both white strong white women, Kim Mcarathy and Trinca Brunella, they saw what the needs were in our education system,and they pushed their egos aside and bravely rolled up their sleeves to understand their privilege and use it for good. If you are truly wanting to bring about change in these times, know you need to:
1)understand and accept your “privilege”. 2)be ready to be uncomfortable with our truths.3)speak up when you hear racist ideas and microagressions.4)use your platform to elevate new voices who are marginalized 5)support anti-racist policies that can create systemic change.
Some Helpful resources if you want to be a real Allie:
Systemic Anti-black racism in the Peel Board
Canada’s 200 year slavery history:
19 views
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To all the people who want to be called Allies. Thank you for finally waking up in 2020. Maybe it was the Pandemic that created time for you to listen more attentively to what was rocking the World or Perhaps there was really just nothing else better to do? You became aware of “Police Brutality” and how it was so blatant and horrifying in the video showing the killing of George Floyd. This Video truly upset and shocked you into awakening your moral compass. The sad reality is that your moral conscience should have been jarred into an awakened state a long time ago, because before George Floyd there were several victims of racially based police brutality, like Rodney King, Oscar Grant, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Akai Garley, Sandra Blland, Tamari Rice, Philando Castilo,Trayvon Martin and Brennan Taylor. If the sheer number of victims is overwhelming for you, can you imagine how overwhelming and frustrating it is, first for the victims and then for those who are fighting against racism.
This is a painful process, one filled with anger and frustration. Chances are, this is why many have avoided the conversation, because it takes bravery and courage and an openness to new perspectives. I went to school during a time when people thought that having a “multicultural night”, where different cultures were asked to celebrate their uniqueness by costume, dance and food. This was supposed to represent inclusivity and therefore racism was said to be no more. What was seldom noticed, but was always present, was the fact that only those aspects of the different cultures was allowed that did not offend the Euro-Centered sensibilities. In all fairness to my school, this was the lie we were sold by our Canadian government, namely, Come to Multicultural Canada, we don’t have any of the race issues our neighbours have to the South. How was this ignorant message perpetuated? In large part by our education system. In grade 6 I was learning in my history class about the “discovery'' of Canada. I thought everything was fine, till I went home to study for my test, I innocently asked my dad to quiz me, he did and then took the opportunity to fill in all the blanks, like about the cultural genocide of our Indeginious People, with a particular emphasis on “The Residential Schools”, where a very conscious effort was made to eradicate anything that did not reflect the European Cultures. I had never heard anything about this injustice. So on the test date I finished up my test early and then eagerly flipped it over to show-off my new found knowledge, assuming my teacher would be impressed by me. Well, when we got our test back, she gave back everyone’s, then paused before giving me mine, by diving into a “snowflake monologue”, about how she was proud that her ancestors (European) came to Canada, and about how they “made good” no matter what the odds were. I was ridiculed in front of the entire class. I was taught my lesson, “shut up and put up with it”. It's interesting how in 2020 the Education system will come full circle, trying to educate our teachers on how to truly not be Racially biased, and to learn the consequences of “White Privilege”.
I recently went to a teacher conference where we were learning about residential schools, many teachers bravely admitting they went through their entire education without knowing these existed. I just sat there baffled, trying not to obviously shake my head. So, don’t get me wrong, let me state very clearly, I’m very happy new people want to be allies against racism,and to prove my joy I’ve been bombarding my colleagues with information regarding white privilege, so we all understand the term and don’t get too scared straight out at the start of the “marathon”, cause ending racism isn't a sprint. Racism has been going on for centuries, heck countries were built off it, including our beloved Canada. Did Canada practise Slavery? Yes, Canada has had that for close to 200 years of it.
I guess I should trust the future of education now that things are out in the open, but that kind of faith is not easy, because of the lessons learned about white Privilege and racial injustice. I pushed myself into reading and researching everything I could about”equity”, because my teachers weren’t teaching it, they were reciting old lessons that did not reflect me or any other non white culture. I witnessed my father go for countless interviews for high school Religion teaching positions with not only a teachers degree, but, with his Masters of Divinity, from the University of Toronto. The very same degree your parish priest holds; it took him 8 years of “supply Teaching”, during a time when other people were being hired right out of teacher’s college. I guess he did not “look the part”, thanks to, or is it no thanks to “White Privilege”.
Because my high school experience was so disappointing and lacking in critical knowledge of everything beyond Europe and white male leaders.There was nothing but same old Martin Luther King jr ideas of him having a dream, which has been saturated in white washing making him acceptable to teach, hence no Malcolm X. I remember being in gr.11 Law class, employment equity was just being introduced in Canada. This gr. 12 student in my class, who was the head of the PC youth group, argued vehemently, that it was unfair to be giving jobs away to racialized people, just because of their skin colour. I put my hand up as one of the only racialized people in class and said to her, why are you assuming they aren't as qualified?! My class erupted in claps, not necessarily because they agreed with me, but just because the girl was finally speechless.This was as close to a discussion on race that we got.
In the English class we read “Black Like Me, and I didnt understand why we had to read about a white man that decided to change his colour, were Black people not writing????
Because I experienced it on a daily basis, I became exhausted with our outdated curriculum and teachers that chose ignorance and corney multicultural events to prove they were not racist. My advice about multicultural events is that they do nothing to get rid of the racism we feel everyday from the stale Euro-centered lessons we are taught in class and society. Teachers who most often are ignorant of racism, or simply choose not to see it, choose not to “reinvent the wheel”,and just reuse old lessons where students’ can study a smattering of people, the same every year. For example, Terry Fox represented - disabled, box checked! Rosa Parks, 2 boxes female and black.
“Sorry, I don’t want to reinvent the wheel”. The amount of times I hear this in the halls of education, is unbelievable!!!! You are in a career that is all about reinventing, and re-inventing is about learning. A student would not be allowed to hand in a history textbook as his essay and say “I didn't want to reinvent the wheel”. I personally think that some teachers need to have higher expectations for themselves and therefore their students. Now, it is true that in all careers you get your lazy people, but can we afford to have those in education? Please excuse me if i'm a bit fired up, because this is not necessarily a white thing, its a white supremacy thing, it's about “White Privilege”; my mentors in my education career were both white strong white women, Kim Mcarathy and Trinca Brunella, they saw what the needs were in our education system,and they pushed their egos aside and bravely rolled up their sleeves to understand their privilege and use it for good. If you are truly wanting to bring about change in these times, know you need to:
1)understand and accept your “privilege”. 2)be ready to be uncomfortable with our truths.3)speak up when you hear racist ideas and microagressions.4)use your platform to elevate new voices who are marginalized 5)support anti-racist policies that can create systemic change.
Some Helpful resources if you want to be a real Allie:
Systemic Anti-black racism in the Peel Board
Canada’s 200 year slavery history:
19 views
