Actions You Can Take To Learn More About The Black Lives Matter Movement
Tanner Mackenzie • June 8, 2020
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In recent weeks, and even recent years, there have been a number of high-profile incidents in the US where black citizens have been targeted and killed by police.
Freddie Gray
Philando Castile
William Chapman II
Walter Scott
Eric Harris
Eric Garner
George Floyd
This is nowhere near an exhaustive list, just a short list of names I immediately recognized when I read them.
My own privilege and perceived separation from these incidents (and the issue of racism as a whole) has caused me to remain a casual observer. I now understand that racism is not limited to the US; it's found throughout the world and Canada still has many issues with systemic racism. That knowledge is not enough. Individuals and communities that want to stand together with minorities and the oppressed need to become informed and vigilant. I wondered how best I could do this, and found three helpful resources.
This resource can help you to identify and understand your implicit biases around race, but also gender and sexuality. Most of us, if asked if we are racist, or biased, would respond with a resounding NO. That means you are not explicitly racist, or biased, and hiding it from others. Our upbringing, the media we consume, and our institutions have often instilled what's known as implicit bias, which you are often unaware of. This bias can be just as harmful as explicit bias, as it affects how we treat others and make decisions.
Simply enter your email, and you will be sent daily activities and/or thought-provoking short pieces. You can elect to only receive emails covering race, but I chose to receive all of them to learn as much as possible.
Although this was published in 2002, Dr. Francis Kendall's piece still does a perfect job of explaining what privilege is, and how it affects members of different races and cultures. It is 11 pages long, but still very succinct and informative. Before reading this piece, I didn't understand that one does not accept white privilege, it is given, whether we seek to take it or not.
The Canadian government has assembled a solid collection of information on Canada's Indigenous peoples and communities. Everything from history to arts to reconciliation efforts can be found here. I was (and still am) lacking in knowledge of the peoples who originally inhabited Canada, and hope to learn more as I read more. Understanding these communities and their history
is key to understanding current issues, for example the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Our ability to foster and nurture strong relationships between all races forms a significant part of individual health and wellness. I hope these resources are as informative and helpful for you as they are for me.
Learning, and using new knowledge to change our habits is the only way we can help to improve the treatment of all members of our society.
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