Anti-Black Racism Town Hall

Share your experience

• Include Black history in schools- not only in February & not only slavery

  by tee, over 5 years ago

  Black history did not start with slavery. Educate the teachers on Black history so that they can educate the children. Share the culture, talk about the great Black Leaders, before, during and after slavery. This will help children understand the history and the value and contribution of Blacks throughout the world.

  Also BLM is not the only movement surrounding anti Black racism. Let us teach our children to see colour and the beauty in our differences, but treat each other with love and respect because we are all from one race- the human race..

  
  

  Black history did not start with slavery. Educate the teachers on Black history so that they can educate the children. Share the culture, talk about the great Black Leaders, before, during and after slavery. This will help children understand the history and the value and contribution of Blacks throughout the world.

  Also BLM is not the only movement surrounding anti Black racism. Let us teach our children to see colour and the beauty in our differences, but treat each other with love and respect because we are all from one race- the human race..

  
  

• BLM - Both sides of the story

  by Concerned Mom, over 5 years ago

  My concerns lie with the other side of the BLM movement that is not being shared. The hate filled, discriminative, violent protest groups that are causing more divide than unity amongst our community, even going as far as to support defunding our police.
  
  

  Myself and MANY other parents believe that BLM has NO place in our schools and we will stand up against it.

  BLM is a self proclaimed dangerous Marxist group that has very little evidence of supporting any local black inituatives at all.
  
  

  A co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto argued that white people are “recessive genetic defects”... Continue reading

  My concerns lie with the other side of the BLM movement that is not being shared. The hate filled, discriminative, violent protest groups that are causing more divide than unity amongst our community, even going as far as to support defunding our police.
  
  

  Myself and MANY other parents believe that BLM has NO place in our schools and we will stand up against it.

  BLM is a self proclaimed dangerous Marxist group that has very little evidence of supporting any local black inituatives at all.
  
  

  A co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto argued that white people are “recessive genetic defects” and purportedly mused about how the race could be “wiped out,” amongst other incredibly inappropriate comments.
  
  

  This is not a peaceful movement.

  Anyone who speaks up or out about BLM and how they are handling anti black racism gets labeled a racist and white supremacist and attacked, myself included.

  People have been violently attacked (physically as well) for using the term All Lives Matter to promote unity. Now the DDSB suggests it would like to teach my kids to NOT say All Lives Matter and then try to explain to them that they don’t understand the term and are being insensitive, instead of realizing these kids/parents AREN'T RACIST and this is rediculous. Parents , like myself, raised their kids on ONE LOVE and they don’t see colour when it comes to helping anyone, unlike these disgusting ‘teaching tools’ suggest like the burning house analogy.

  
  Please let us know how you plan to show ALL sides to the BLM movement to our communities so that people know 100% what it’s ALL about so they can make informed choices abouting support it and how it’s taught to our kids.

• racism in kindergarten

  by Momoftwo, over 5 years ago

  My child is in Junior Kindergarten, and attends school in North Oshawa. She was distinctly told by one of her peers that she couldn't invite her to her party because she was black. This is a reflection of the parents and the feeling of hatred in the community. How do you explain to your 4 year old what racism is? That her skin color will cause her to be slighted

  My child is in Junior Kindergarten, and attends school in North Oshawa. She was distinctly told by one of her peers that she couldn't invite her to her party because she was black. This is a reflection of the parents and the feeling of hatred in the community. How do you explain to your 4 year old what racism is? That her skin color will cause her to be slighted

• WHITBY PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ANTI-BLACK.

  by Rick777, over 5 years ago

  I was falsely acused and then banned with malice by Whitby library of promoting business because I'm seen as "Black". This library refuses to hire Black men in their staffing.

  I was falsely acused and then banned with malice by Whitby library of promoting business because I'm seen as "Black". This library refuses to hire Black men in their staffing.

• Uxbridge residents looking to ban all symbols of hate and racial intolerance

  by TMur, over 5 years ago

  On June 22nd, 2020 a group of concerned Uxbridge citizens presented to Council our collective concerns around a racist incident involving the display of a Confederate flag during a peaceful Black Lives Matter stand-in organized by Zed Pickering and Maggie Finlayson. The attached presentation discussion and powerpoint was co-created by a group of concerned Uxbridge citizens.

  We requested the following action be taken at the council meeting:

  1. In response to the Uxbridge #BlackLivesMatter stand-in on June 5th, 2020, where our families experienced a hateful act involving the Confederate Flag, we are urging council to immediately prohibit visible symbols of... Continue reading

  On June 22nd, 2020 a group of concerned Uxbridge citizens presented to Council our collective concerns around a racist incident involving the display of a Confederate flag during a peaceful Black Lives Matter stand-in organized by Zed Pickering and Maggie Finlayson. The attached presentation discussion and powerpoint was co-created by a group of concerned Uxbridge citizens.

  We requested the following action be taken at the council meeting:

  1. In response to the Uxbridge #BlackLivesMatter stand-in on June 5th, 2020, where our families experienced a hateful act involving the Confederate Flag, we are urging council to immediately prohibit visible symbols of hate and racial intolerance throughout the Township of Uxbridge.

  2. We would also like to extend an offer to be part of steps to educate, amplify voice and to commit to action in service of equity for all.

  Action taken during this meeting: Moved by Councillor Garrod Seconded by Councillor Pop that the Council of the Township of Uxbridge refer the Delegation of Angela Virgo, Tanya Murray, Michelle Zante and George Wallace to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group; AND THAT the Committee be directed to report back to Council with recommendations regarding prohibiting visible symbols of hate in the Township of Uxbridge.

  The Township has taken the following action since the deputation:

  • The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Working Group is meeting regularly to finalize the ED&I Blueprint for the Township
  • Councillor Popp met with Blue Heron Books who confirmed they do not sell books that promote racism or hate
  • Our Library has a policy and mandate to scrutinize books available, ensuring books that promote violence, racism or hate are not available
  • We have been working towards a policy and by-law amendment specifically regarding banning symbols/signs that promote hate. Our lawyer was to appear before council on July 13th however was called away to an emergency and thus has been rescheduled for the next council meeting which is scheduled for Aug 10th. It is our expectation that a resolution will follow at the next council meeting.
  • Uxbridge has recently initiated their own grassroots group of residents who are discussing actionable ways which we as citizens can create a warm and welcoming environment for all, identify and remove barriers, increase accessibility of information, and provide awareness and education opportunities for all ages.

  For this Durham Town Hall, we would like to continue asking the following questions of our communities:

  Who is welcome? Who might not be? Who decides this?

  What opportunities for leadership do we have today not just in our town but in Durham, in Ontario and beyond. How might we show up at this moment? How might we amplify actions that send a strong message that we welcome and support both residents and visitors to be the best version of themselves?

  Delegation - Video: https://pub-uxbridge.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIStandAlonePlayer.aspx?Id=70142865-525b-4929-8bb3-442579060fb5

  PDF of Presentation: https://pub-uxbridge.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=4947

  Tanya (on behalf of the delegation presentation group)

• Racism exists in schools

  by Hemanshu, over 5 years ago

  Our 5 year son who is now 14 was called dark brown in his elementary school in Whitby. This is sooo wrong on sooo many levels how can kids that age distinguish each other by the colour of their skin. Even if it was done innocently it's something the child learned somewhere and most likely at home.

  Our son has all types of friends from different heritages and he is not the one to distinguish based on the colour of one's skin. He understands that we are all human even though we might look different.

  I have been called names... Continue reading

  Our 5 year son who is now 14 was called dark brown in his elementary school in Whitby. This is sooo wrong on sooo many levels how can kids that age distinguish each other by the colour of their skin. Even if it was done innocently it's something the child learned somewhere and most likely at home.

  Our son has all types of friends from different heritages and he is not the one to distinguish based on the colour of one's skin. He understands that we are all human even though we might look different.

  I have been called names as well growing up in Markham as I am of South Asian Heritage.