(UPDATED) How should parents talk to their kids about anti-Black racism?

91��ɫ educator available to discuss killings and injustices against Black people

TORONTO, June 1, 2020 – Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rash of anti-Black killings and racists acts in the U.S – including George Floyd who was killed after a white police officer pinned him to the ground by pressing his knee on his neck, and birdwatcher Christian Cooper who was accosted in Central Park by a white woman who falsely accused him of threatening her.

These incidents are opening doors for Canadians to talk about anti-Black racism, police brutality and the nationwide protests against the deaths of unarmed Black people – which are all happening on both sides of the border – but parents need to remember that their children are watching these events unfold too, says , a professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Education who is the .

“People are angry, tired and in pain, and today’s generation of young people, no doubt are trying to make sense of the anti-Black racism they are observing,” says James, a leading education expert on Black youth and race relations. “That’s the reason why parents need to talk to their children to help them understand what is happening.”

“It’s very easy in the Canadian context to think of what is happening as simply a product of racism in America,” says James. “There is enough evidence of Black Canadian people’s experiences with racism so we need to understand the Black experience if we’re going to effectively address racism.”

He is encouraging parents to talk about why injustices against Black people are wrong and how systemic racism works. It also helps to put this in the context of Black history, the legacy of slavery and segregation, and the power of the civil rights movement, Black leadership and the Black Lives Matter movement.

“White parents need to talk to their white kids about white-skinned privilege and how to not take that for granted,” says James. “White families, non-Black families and Black families all need to help their children interpret what is going on around them and the role that race plays. Explain why this is happening and what Black people are experiencing that triggered these anti-police protests. Ask questions like, ‘Why did the white police officer think he could kneel on the neck of a Black man for nine minutes?’”

James is encouraging teachers to talk about anti-Black racism with their students, even if it’s through teacher-led online learning which is occurring across Ontario because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He’d also like to see schools and school boards organize online sessions for students to talk with each other about race and racism.

For those parents thinking that their kids are too young to see colour, think again.

“Children as young as age three understand the difference between Black skin and white skin,” says James.

Researchers have shown that when given a choice of Black dolls and white dolls, children – including Black children – show a preference for white dolls, says James, who made a similar finding in 1992 when he co-led this experiment at Toronto childcare centres. The Black and white children in James’ study neglected the Black dolls.

A former youth worker and community worker, James has led extensive research on the lived experiences of marginalized community members within the framework of equity, inclusivity, and social justice. In 2017, he led a report,��, which found Black students in the GTA are disproportionately being streamed into applied instead of academic programs, often times below their ability, and are being suspended at a much higher rate than their counterparts.

James is the author and co-author of several books including and . Currently, he is exploring the relationship between race and COVID-19 noting the impact of the virus on Black people as part of a study led by the University of Toronto. James is also leading two research projects – one on the Black justice system and the other on Black students who left university without completing their studies and enrolled in college.

He can comment on:

• Anti-Black racism and racialization
• The lives of Black youth in Canada
• Multiculturalism and race relations
• Equity, inclusivity and social justice related to marginalized Canadians
• Masculinity and young Black males
• Education and schooling of minority students

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

��Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452,��vthomps@yorku.ca

The post How should parents talk to their kids about anti-Black racism? appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ expert is available to explain gospel music popularity and history

TORONTO, February 10, 2020 – Gospel music is so ingrained in pop culture today that gospel choirs are everywhere from the Superbowl and Grammys to detergent and car commercials, says Karen Burke, one of Canada’s leading authorities on gospel music’s history and performance practices.

, an associate professor in 91��ɫ’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, will be among several gospel, spoken word, jazz and R&B performances at the Faculty of Education’s Black History Month event. The event, , will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

With musicians from pop star Justin Bieber to rapper Kanye West belting out gospel music, the origins of gospel music easily could be forgotten. Gospel music began as spiritual songs, sung by enslaved African Black people in the U.S. The songs were peppered with concealed messages of survival and plans to escape from the slave owners.

“Gospel music is an important tool to understand the depth of Black history, and the gospel music community in Canada today is a big vibrant and diverse community,” says Burke, who is organizing musical performances and directing the 91��ɫ Gospel Choir at the event.

A singer, choral director and composer, Burke started Canada’s first university gospel music course at 91��ɫ in 2005.

“Gospel choirs are used all the time to emphasize important events, like at the Grammys or the Oscars or Meghan Markle’s wedding,” says Burke. “The hydraulic lift goes up and there’s the gospel choir hoisted in the air and the energy is electric.”

The event is hosted by the��Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora, currently held by Professor .

Of the event’s theme, James says gospel music is quite culturally relevant to Black history, adding that “gospel music was��central to the colonial project and hence��a part of life for enslaved African Black people in the West. But while the music is rooted in Christian spirituality, it’s important to remember that��Black people are not all Christians, so we will all have a different relationship to the music.”

WHAT: Faculty of Education’s Black History Month event

WHEN and WHERE: Wednesday, February 12, 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. reception (Martin Family Lounge, 2nd Floor Accolade East, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. performances (Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, at 91��ɫ’s Keele Campus (see #92 on this��).

NOTE:��Members of the public are required to as space is limited. Members of the media should RSVP to the contact below.

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452, vthomps@yorku.ca

The post Unpacking the power of gospel music to Black history appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ scholar available to discuss Blackness in Canada research project

TORONTO, February 6, 2020 –��It’s no accident that Professor Lorne Foster – one of Canada’s top scholars on racial profiling and anti-racism laws – chose to kick off his research project exploring Black Canadian identity during Black History Month.

is a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians and��learn how people of African descent have helped to shape Canada’s heritage and identity.

is leading a first-of-its-kind, national research project exploring what it means to be a Black Canadian man, woman or youth.

“In many communities across Canada, Black Canadians experience isolation, anti-Black racism, school disengagement, youth incarceration, racial profiling, gun violence, poor health outcomes and greater levels of unemployment and underemployment,” said Foster. A professor in the Department of Equity Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Foster also serves as the director of 91��ɫ’s Institute for Social Research.

“To address these barriers within Canada’s Black population, and to advance racial equity in society, we need to study their first-hand-perspectives and listen to their diverse voices,” he said.

The goal of the multi-year study is to investigate the Black Canadian population as a national ethno-racial identity and explore how the experiences of Black Canadians are shaped by social, political and economic factors. The study also seeks to find the most promising ways to alleviate anti-Black racism.

Part of the Blackness in Canada project will involve a national survey of thousands of Black Canadians who will be asked about 40 questions related to several themes including: childhood upbringing, demographic characteristics, and experiences with anti-Black racism and discrimination. The results of the study and survey are expected to be released in early 2021.

The project is being done through the , the country’s largest university-based survey research centre. The $291,072 study is being funded through a $199,980 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Grant, with additional funding from 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Institute for Social Research, Multicultural History Society of Ontario (MHSO)and Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF).

Foster teaches in the areas of public policy, social justice, race and ethnicity and has written more than 200 published articles, journal articles, book chapters and books, including , released in 2018.

He can comment on:

• The Blackness in Canada project
• Black History Month and the Black identity
• Black Canadians in the human rights movement
• Racial profiling, police carding and anti-Black racism
• Public policy reform and workplace diversity

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

��Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452,��vthomps@yorku.ca

The post What does it mean to be Black Canadian in a multi-racial Canada? appeared first on News@91��ɫ.