Have been reflecting a lot on the Ministry review of anti-Black racism at the #PDSB and the Investigator's report and my own place in these... (thread)
It's easy to point fingers and lay blame, and deservedly so. BUT it's important for many of us within this system to acknowledge our positionality in those findings and our complicity in the system as it exists...
Even though some of us can look at these findings and say "Well that's not me" or "I would never" that's just failing to recognize our own actions/inactions. Even though we may not see ourselves explicitly in the review, we're there...
Have we actively pursued breaking down the system? Have we questioned the processes and practices? Have we been bystanders through our actions or words? Have we pushed back? stood up? amplified voices? Have we demanded better prior to this? No? Then we are all a part of this...
As someone in a leadership role in this board I really need to recognize my own role in this system. If I am to truly commit to combatting anti-Black racism then I need to acknowledge that as a white, cis, male I have greatly benefitted from this system...
As friend pointed out in Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility "Most of us would not choose to be socialized into racism & white supremacy..." but "Now it's our responsibility to grapple with how this socialization manifests itself in our daily lives & how it shapes our responses"...
So if we are truly going to do the work we need to first acknowledge this, reflect on our actions and inaction over the years, and grapple with these facts. Only when we understand our responsibility in these findings can we begin the necessary work.
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