How to support your peers regardless of the colour of your skin
We have a tendency to dismiss initiatives that raise awareness for causes which have not directly affected our own experiences. However, the importance of Black History Month should not be undermined even if you yourself aren’t black. In fact, I think we, especially those not belonging to minority groups, have a responsibility to use this month to bridge the gap between what we’ve been taught and what we can still learn. There are even a few ways you can contribute to Black History Month on your own time.
Be contemplative
Reflect on your attitude, biases, and stereotypes. Rid yourself of stereotypes — intentional or not — which may be pervasive to the community you grew up in or a by-product of your peers.
Acknowledge that you might be benefitting from a privilege built on the backs of people who continue to be minoritized.
Recognize that certain situations make you uncomfortable because you want to ignore that racism is still an issue.
Accept the fact that you will be constantly learning from others. We very rarely take the time out of our hectic schedules to contemplate our existence — or at least I don’t; I can’t speak for philosophy majors. This month, think a little bit about how your behaviour is a testament to your thoughts and what may seem harmless to you may have a larger impact elsewhere.
Educate yourself
“Ignorance is bliss” could not be more true than when it comes to learning about black history, and this is why it’s especially important for those of us who are not black to educate ourselves on a history that we don’t often get exposed to in class. Black history is often glossed over; it’s a footnote at the end of a chapter, a one-time class discussion, or an elective that too many people who most need to take, won’t. This month, take the time to read or watch a documentary about a little-known figure or event that is of great significance in black history, but was probably never featured on the New York Times bestseller list or nominated for an Oscar.
Black history is so much more than Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Harriet Tubman — but you should also learn about them if you haven’t already. Black history is also about scientific discoveries by Alice Ball (the chemist who found the most effective treatment for leprosy) and activists like Irene Morgan Kirkaldy and Ella Baker. It’s about Mae C. Jemison, the first African-American woman to become an astronaut, and the Harlem Hellfighters — an all black regiment that fought in both world wars. Learning about important figures is incredibly interesting, and to help with our self-education, there is a lovely booth with books with everything from autobiographies to articles on black feminism located on the first floor of the Mclaughlin Library for Black History Month.
Support your peers
Listen to the experiences and stories of your peers. Speak up when a throwaway comment doesn’t sit well with you. Don’t just roll your eyes when someone makes a joke that has gone too far to be funny. Don’t talk about how much “progress” has been made when confronted with stories about discriminatory behaviour. Get involved in events and workshops that campus associations have so thoughtfully put together.
Simply put, stand by your black peers and remember that black history is Canada’s history and since it isn’t taught as it should be throughout the year, we should be especially open to learning about it every February.
Photos obtained via Wikimedia Commons