91��ɫ researchers can discuss impact of anti-Black racism, what needs to change

roshanp — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 14:30:15 +0000

TORONTO, June 2, 2020 – As anti-Black racism protests rip across North America in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, 91��ɫ professors can discuss some of the systemic issues that have led to anti-Black racism in Canada and the U.S., its impact and the weaponization of race.

What can we learn and how do we ensure change starting with children? What are some approaches teachers can use in the classroom and do schools have the necessary materials that reflect diverse communities and celebrate their successes?

Associate Professor , 91��ɫ Research Chair in Youth and Contexts of Inequity in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the provincial academic director of the Youth Research and Evaluation Exchange, can discuss:

Anti-Black racism
The impact on the well-being of Black youth, their families and communities

Associate Professor , an expert in race and gender in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, can comment on:

Anti-Black racism in Canada and the United States
Weaponization of race and racial fear
Construction of protest, violence, and patriotism
Constructions of Black masculinity

Associate Professor of the Faculty of Health and director of the Interpersonal Perception and Social Cognition Laboratory looks at why children show implicit racial bias from a young age.

“Racism continues to be a pervasive issue in North America and around the world. Racism directed at people of colour, and specifically Black Americans, creates inequities that are not consistent with our purported meritocracy,” says Steele. “The protests in response to George Floyd's needless and tragic death reflect people's frustration with a system that treats people differently based on the colour of their skin.”

She can speak about:

The effects of systemic racism and discrimination, and dehumanization
Why children need to be exposed to diversity in their lives for them to learn to appreciate diversity
Why educational systems need materials that reflect increasingly diverse communities and why it is important that children learn about successful, contributing members of society from all walks of life
Approaches for the classroom

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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:

Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca

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

roshanp — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:34:59 +0000

(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 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

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91��ɫ researchers can discuss impact of anti-Black racism, what needs to change

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