Black Lives Matter & Anti-Racism Conversations
Experiences Canada’s Black Lives Matter & Anti Racism Conversations series – produced in both English and French – aimed to increase the capacity of youth to engage in Anti-Racism conversations by providing them with an opportunity to learn from emerging and established leaders and from their peers.
The series of 7 webinars are accompanied by easy-to-follow discussion guides, educational materials and resources from anti-racism organizations. A key objective for this series is to amplify the message and voices of the Black Lives Matter Movement and Anti-Racism Activists in Canada.
LEARNING RESOURCES
For each topic, we have provided lesson plans and easy-to-follow discussion guides to provide further instruction on what anti-racism is, and racism in multiple aspects of life. Our aim is to assist educators in integrating the various topics into their curriculum plans and provide support to at-home/independent learners as well.
We encourage you to view the webinars with your students and continue the conversation in your (virtual) classrooms using our lesson plans and guides.
PARTNER RESOURCES
A key objective for this series was to amplify the message and voices of the Black Lives Matter Movement and Anti-Racism Activists in Canada and raise greater awareness for the work of these organizations. These resources aim to inform and address many of the same issues highlighted in each weekly event, and provide still more ways for youth to take part in meaningful conversations and engage with their communities.
Anti-Racism Ambassadors
Anti-Racism Ambassadors are a group of dedicated young people who have been selected to act as hosts, mediators, videographers, and content creators for the Black Lives Matter & Anti-Racism Conversations Series. By offering their experience, knowledge, and support skills, the Ambassadors can ensure that youth are engaged, informed, and protected as they participate in meaningful conversations on Anti-Racism.
What is Black Lives Matter and its Impact in Canada
Following the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer in the United States in 2013, the global Black Lives Matter movement rose up to combat violence against the black community.
The BLM movement in Canada co-founded by Janaya Khan and Sandy Hudson has an equally pervasive impact in Canada: “I am telling you, the brutalization of Black people and the anti-Blackness that we face, it’s not that different because of the little imaginary line that separates what is called Canada and what is called the United States,” explains Sandy Hudson. “Our cultures are very, very similar. The thing that is very different about Canada is the denial that we are faced with when we tell people outside of Black communities that this is a problem that needs to be addressed.”
ANTI-RACISM AMBASSADOR FEATURE
OTHER RESOURCES
YOUTH CHALLENGE
Freedom Fighters
Share a photo of a Black Canadian revolutionary with their name, a description, and your reason for choosing them!
Introduction to Racism
The field of Anti-Racism is constantly changing, with new terminology being created every year as more stories of how racism affects individuals and communities. Race hasn’t existed for forever, its inception coincides with the creation of modern colonialism and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. This was a period of cultural and physical genocide of millions of Africans, with race being created to rationalize this inhumane treatment. The resulting effects on Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities have translated into sociological, psychological and biological differences. These differences and discrimination still occur today as they are bound to the constitutions of countries worldwide, but are continually being challenged as individuals increasingly discuss what has happened and continues to happen to those of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities.
In this webinar, we explore the origins and notions of racism as they connect to colonialism and Black Histories in Canada, what Anti-Racism is as a concept, how it is a continually process for all individuals to commit to, and the key terminology that is important to understand, and how Islamophobia is connected to this.
ANTI-RACISM AMBASSADOR FEATURE
OTHER RESOURCES
YOUTH CHALLENGE
News Narratives
Share a news headline/article or even a picture of a school book page and re-write it from a different perspective.
The Justice System is meant to keep Canadians and residents within Canada safe and secure. However, racism within the system of justice and security is what motivated this global movement. Within the justice system, there are multiple examples of systemic, institutional and individual racism that have occured and continue to occur every day. From police presence in select school, to the unresolved murders of thousands of Indigenous Women and Girls, to racial profiling that has resulted in disproportionate number of racialized persons incarcerated.
This session will discuss what racialized youth within the criminal justice system have experienced and how safety within Mosques is jeopardized because of racism. Each speaker will share their insights and thoughts, while bringing it back to the importance of why being Anti-Racist is important to the betterment of our society.
Justice & Security
ANTI-RACISM AMBASSADOR FEATURE
OTHER RESOURCES
YOUTH CHALLENGE
Restorative justice
Propose implementing elements of restorative justice in your school or classroom, using the template provided in the lesson slides.
Economic Opportunities
Economic Opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color individuals have increased over the years. As true histories of the experiences of these communities have become widely shared, more interest in the field increases the opportunities for individuals to create their own businesses or organizations. Additionally, among these communities the need to give back to their own is a part of their wellbeing.
During this week, we will hear from youth who have created their own organization or are heavily involved in multiple organizations centered at building up the capacity of youth in their areas and broadly online. Each individual comes sharing their experiences with colonial and decolonial ways of learning, discussing how marginalization within workplaces and educational institutions have affected their lives today, and how youth can collaborate to create change.
ANTI-RACISM AMBASSADOR FEATURE
OTHER RESOURCES
YOUTH CHALLENGE
Donate or Support
Donate your time, supplies, or money to a BIPOC-run charity, organization or support a BIPOC-run business. Take a photo, screenshot the receipt of donation, or simply post about what/who you chose to support!
HEALTH
The inequities within the healthcare system have long been known to Black, Indigenous and People of Colour. These communities have faced racial disrimination in the form of lack of adequate housing and affordable food supplies; lack of adequate health care and emergency services; lower income levels and lack of access to education and economic opportunities. As media has become increasingly accessible and easier to use, the racial discrimination of these communities have shown Canada has a lot to fix.
This session will examine the bias treatment experienced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities with respect to securing equal access to housing, healthcare, and other essential living services.
ANTI-RACISM AMBASSADOR FEATURE
Indigenous Queerness
In examining the ways in which colonialism has shaped many Indigenous communities, we often see...
OTHER RESOURCES
YOUTH CHALLENGE
Sign or Start a Petition!
Search on https://www.change.org/ for a petition related to racism in health. You can use search words such as “health”, “racism”, and “Canada” or your local community. Sign one that aligns with your values and the change you would like to see. If you can’t find one, start one!
Environment
The impacts of declining our environment are not experienced equally. Most often it is racialized groups and neighborhoods who suffer the worst quality of life due to increased pollutants from toxic waste, garbage, pollutants and emissions, yet they have the least amount of power to effect change in their communities. For millennia, Indigenous people have been protecting the lands which make up Canada. As colonization of the land and Indigenous People occurred, the destruction of the environment Canada inhabits deteriorates. As more studies solidify what Indigenous People have known, more support for Indigenous, Black and People of Colour activists is found.
This week we will hear from the Indigenous politician who introduced the Climate Emergency Action Act to federal parliament, a professor based on Canada’s East Coast who’s book “There’s Something in the Water” was recently turned into a documentary featuring Ellen Page, and a youth activist who includes art and urban development practices within her work at one of the countries leading climate action organizations.
ANTI-RACISM AMBASSADOR FEATURE
OTHER RESOURCES
YOUTH CHALLENGE
Write a Letter:
Write a letter to your representative expressing your concerns about (or support for) a developmental project using the template in the lesson slides.
ALLYSHIP
In this concluding participant exclusive session, individuals, parents and educators 14-30 eager to take the next step in becoming stronger allies and advocates for change will hear from individuals and groups who work on building connections between and with BIPOC communities. Participants will then have the opportunity to discuss different scenarios that occur in our everyday lives to effectively learn how to become allies using the suggestions from our Allyship specific speakers and those featured on previous weeks discussions.
ANTI-RACISM AMBASSADOR FEATURE
OTHER RESOURCES
YOUTH CHALLENGE
Amplify BIPOC Voices
Audit your social media feed (who do you follow, what have you posted?). Follow the accounts suggested in the lesson slides to diversify your feed, and share their content.
OR (or in addition) listen to one of the BIPOC-hosted podcasts suggested in the slides.
Continue the Work
Think about your privileges and talents and figure out a way to put them to work! Get creative! Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Thanks to Our Partner
We are grateful for the generous contribution of The RBC Foundation to support The Black Lives Matter/Anti-Racism Conversation Series that not only helps to amplify voices and perspectives about Anti-Racism in Canada, but is also contributes to building youth skills, capacity and experience for future jobs and opportunities.
You can find out more about the many youth initiatives RBC supports here.
top image: GoToVan from Vancouver, Canada / CC BY
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