Hi all. Its been an emotionally and mentally draining few months. This past week the world has been shocked with yet again more cases of overt racism in the USA. And in the midst of all our outrage, several questions have emerged:
- Where is the national and international leadership – can global leaders speak out against injustice?
- What will it take to bring lasting change – beyond rhetoric and apologies? So many lives have been lost needlessly!
- And for us from other countries and continents, how do we show support and solidarity and still maintain the energy needed to advocate for change back here at home with issues of extra judicial killings, massive corruption etc?
We share a few articles and videos that speak to us at this moment. We all know the current global issues we are facing and we will not repeat all these as described by Roxane Gay in the New York Times. Rather we focus on analysis of racism, and on how we can collectively process these very painful situations and still advocate for change. Please share other helpful content with us.
- First, ‘Why we need to call out casual racism’ by Luvvie Ajayi. ‘Knowing our privilege does not make us villains, but it should make us more conscious about the parts we play in systems that are greater than us. It should make us be more thoughtful; it should humble us. We need to admit that some of us had a head start and aren’t just flourishing on our strength alone. The most glaring aspect of white privilege is that when someone is described neutrally — without indicating color or ethnicity — more often than not, people will assume that the person is white. That assumption indicates an uncomfortable truth.’
2. Renee Nishawn Scott challenges us in her article ‘Where is the outrage for Breonna Taylor?‘
‘Black men, I implore you to see us as more than someone who should stand by your side. Black women, I implore you to extend your concern for the lives of your sons, husbands, and boyfriends to those of your daughters, sisters, and yourselves. If you think that this does not apply to you because you “pay attention,” I implore you to make sure that you can name more than three Black women who were murdered by the police. If you cannot, it’s time to take a look at your own internalized misogynoir’.
3. We agree that racism is a global issue. Al Jazeera recently covered a series of articles by Brandi Morin, one of which was entitled ‘How did we become enemies? Racism and Reconciliation in Canada’.
‘It is time to “feel the pain,… Indigenous peoples have been muzzled for a long time. So, when we get in these kinds of meetings they [Indigenous] want to say their piece – and it’s heavy. But then the others [non-Indigenous] want to shut the meeting down because they don’t want to go there. They don’t want to hear it. They don’t want to get hurt. The truth is, they only got to feel the hurt – there are people here that had to live the hurt … but we will help them [non-Indigenous] – they won’t feel the hurt alone.” Hinano.
4. For us, Trevor Noah cuts to the heart of the issue here. Whether knowingly (in this case with Amy Cooper) or unknowingly (because this has been normalised), we may use our privilege in a system to our own advantage (to open doors, to oppress others etc), even when we know the dire consequences this will have for the other party. Trevor helps us to ponder on how this can never be termed an innocent action!
5. Another incisive piece was on the How Matters blog in the piece ‘Ways to be in action against anti-Black racism’. ‘When up against systems as entrenched, resilient, and interdependent as white supremacy, capitalism and the patriarchy, we must start right where we are. We are either in resistance to white supremacy, or we are upholding it either overtly or by our silence or inaction in this moment. In “social good” spaces, let us find all manner of ways to call for an end to racism and the injustices perpetuated by inequality and discrimination. This is a moment amongst many, but it is a moment calling for clarity and action. Overturning white supremacy will likely take generations and yet – right now – there is an opening for dialogue, change, and transformation.’ We would not limit this to anti-black racism as the ideas work for all forms of racism.
6. Coshandra Dillard shares more in her article ‘Teaching about King’s radical approach to social justice.’‘But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? … It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity’. Dr M.L. King
7. Finally an animation on Íntergenerational Trauma’ as covered by The Healing Foundation on the First Nations people of Australia (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), and more specifically on the stolen generation. Lest we forget!
embrace everyone 