Topic: Becoming an Anti-Racist Educator
Date: September 28th, 2021
3 big takeaways:
- As an educator, I need to dig deep, reflect, examine, and confront my any discomfort and/or fears that relate to people of colour and/or racism, so that I can respond in an appropriate way that says “I care” rather than the alternative message that is sent if I freeze or stay silent, as it can have detrimental and lasting affects on a student, family, and/or community.
- Educators are those who practice love and heal, therefore they “are people who remove harm and reduce the impact of violence, people who restore and repair” (Pitts, 2020).
- Educators are lifelong learners therefore we must “constantly examine and re-examine our ideas, beliefs, and truths” (Pitts. 2020).
2 Connections:
- In Dyan Watson’s “A Message from a Black Mom to Her Son” the thing that most stood out to me was the fact that I didn’t and still don’t have to worry about going to school and being misrepresented or misunderstood, nor did I ever have to worry about the safety of my children like Watson did with her son because of the privileged we hold being white. I don’t believe any mother should have to worry about their child being loved or “look at through hurtful racial preconceptions” (Watson, 2012).
- As a human, an ally, and an educator, I have a responsibility to do my part in addressing racism and working towards creating a socially just society. This will not happen through good intentions alone rather it will only happen with action. In saying this, I know my role and my responsibility, but I often become overwhelmed and/or question whether I am doing enough and/or if I am doing it right. So when I read Hedreich Nichols’ words “small bites that can have big impact and don’t worry about getting it wrong sometimes” (2020), I was encouraged that as long as I keep trying and moving forward every little bit counts.
1 question: I feel Jona Ollson addressed a lot of important “attitudes and behaviours that detour us from our anti-racist journey of re-education” (N.D.) and many (if not all) made perfect sense to me, however I was confused between #20 and #24 and felt the two contradicted one another. For instance, #20 says we are not supposed to ask people of colour to teach/help us be anti-racist, but then #24 says we should “[learn] to follow the leadership of, and take direction from people of colour, while being accountable to them are vital components of our ally-ship.” So, my challenge/question is how do we do both? Neither? What is the author saying? I feel like as allies working together for change than if people are genuinely trying to do better, shouldn’t we help them? But then I realize that if we have to ask, it is probably obvious, therefore wrong…maybe I am just tired and need other perspectives.