Following the death of George Floyd, every social media platform has been covered with support for the Black Lives Matter movement, often with updates on global protests or advice on how to be anti-racist. Although as a biracial Black woman I am immensely happy (and a little overwhelmed, if I am honest) to see the ongoing conversation about racism against Black people, I am also deeply conflicted. How are all these white folks going to actually be anti-racist when they are only educating themselves on one aspect of their white ancestors’ racist history?
There are far too many Canadians that have no knowledge on the ongoing genocide currently happening in Canada. Just as it is not Black people’s responsibilities to educate white folks and non-Black folks on racism toward the Black community, it’s also not the job of Indigenous folks to educate all of us on the continued mistreatment of Indigenous peoples.
My ancestors are from Nigeria and England. The white side of my family migrated to the US from Westminster, England in the early 1600s, at the beginning of what proved to be a very horrific future for Indigenous and Black folks.
Although I am a biracial Black woman, I have ancestors that have undoubtedly contributed to the founding of white supremacy and the governing systems that have been built to benefit white people. As a result, I believe it will always be my responsibility to help decolonize the space we have all taken up on this stolen land. My fellow white people, you should feel the exact same way.
As many are desperately scrambling to catch up on the unexcused lack of knowledge they have on the abuse that white people have inflicted on Black people for over 400 years, the same effort everyone is putting into learning about Black history must also transcend into learning about Indigenous history. If you are feeling immensely guilty because of white people’s constant exploitation of Black people, please keep in mind: this is the exploitation of those whose ancestors are indigenous to Africa. We must also do the work to change the narrative of people who are indigenous to North America. Understanding the impact the residential school system, the Sixties Scoop, the Coastal GasLink Pipeline, and the missing and murdered Indigenous women have had on the Indigenous community is essential if we are working to make any real difference in Canada and its treatment towards the BIPOC community.
The lack of action on these issues from the Canadian government and the RCMP will not change unless we collectively start educating ourselves and demand change. Racism can no longer be dismissed as an American problem. If you are educating yourself on Black history, do the work and educate yourself on Indigenous history as well. You cannot be anti-racist if you only choose to focus on one aspect of your white ancestors’ racist history.
Reading list for further information
Documentaries/podcasts/films:
I Am Not Your Negro
Do the Right Thing
13th
Books:
Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present by Robyn Maynard
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act by Bob Joseph
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
NDN Coping Mechanisms: Notes from the Field by Billy-Ray Belcourt
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
People/activists/authors:
Angela Davis
Ta’Kaiya Blaney
Langston Hughes
Zora Neale Hurston
Rachel E. Cargle
Tenille Campbell
Camosun Sources:
Available at the Camosun Library:
The Colour of Resistance: A Contemporary Collection of Writing by Aboriginal Women anthologized by Connie Fife
(The Camosun Library has many other books by Indigenous authors)
Courses:
Indigenous Literature (ENGL164, highly recommended to take with Julian Gunn)
Indigenous Perspectives (ART106)
Websites: