Reflecting on #CDNmedia. A space that evidently upholds whiteness:
I was on the call when Wendy Mesley said "n*gger". Since then, she's released two statements apologizing w/ two different accounts. I'm seeing tons of support for her but in reality, the behaviour is anti-Black.
I was on the call when Wendy Mesley said "n*gger". Since then, she's released two statements apologizing w/ two different accounts. I'm seeing tons of support for her but in reality, the behaviour is anti-Black.
White journalists who think it's okay to say "n*gger" (in any context) speak with an undeniable amount of privilege & power that Black, Indigenous & POC journalists will never have. Saying "n-word" is sufficient - it's a term BIPOC journalists use, no matter the context.
Using a racial slur at work re-traumatizes BIPOC & weaponizes the space to protect someone like Wendy, while leaving BIPOC journalists to feel unseen, unheard & unsafe. For an industry that prides itself on "transparency & accountability", the power dynamics are unethical.
I have stayed quiet until now but it's important to note: There was "disciplinary" action because I was on the call. There was a Black person present to hold people accountable. Yet, this is not the first (or perhaps last) time a white journalist at CBC has said "n*gger".
Now that the formal investigation is over, I can conclude: The only way for #CDNmedia to progress is to have BIPOC journalists in the room to hold their white counterparts accountable. The raw truth matters. Every BIPOC at the table matters. Invest in them. Listen to them.
