Racial discrimination is still a very real and persistent issue faced by BIPOC across the globe. BIPOC are still being discriminated against at the individual and systemic level. When we look at the rates of over-incarceration, unlawful stop and searches, restrictive legislation that specifically targets BIPOC, unjust disciplinary measures taken in schools, underfunding and neglect of communities of colour it is hard to deny.
Most racialized people, myself included, have been on the receiving end of racialized attacks, verbal abuse, racial stigmas, stereotypes, and microaggressions. The lived experiences of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), show that there is still much work that needs to be done to end racism. This day, The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is recognized annually and commemorates March 21, 1960, when the police department in Sharpeville, South Africa, brutally killed 69 people who were peacefully protesting the apartheid “pass laws” which forced Black South Africans to carry and present a passbook everywhere they went.
This year the theme is “VOICES FOR ACTION AGAINST RACISM”. As someone who experiences racism, I see the word “voices’ as important. This word indicates that there isn’t just one person, but a group of people working together to create change. I often feel the burden of deconstructing and challenging racism is always on racialized people. We have been forced to educate, advocate, rally, and protest for our rights to be viewed and treated as equal. It is exhausting. In addition to experiencing the effects of racism we have to be at the forefront of changing systems that we did not create. Systems that overtly and subtly overlook, silence, discriminate, and oppress BIPOC.
As a racialized person, I want more white people to care enough to notice and name personal, interpersonal and systemic racism. To care enough to try to do something about it, take action to create change. When I’m at the receiving end of racism I want allies and support, for someone to confront the aggressor, and take that burden of responsibility from me. As the person being harmed, I also should not be the person to rectify, educate, and to always be strong and resilient.
With more voices advocating for action against racism, we become louder. The issues we are trying to push to the forefront will be harder to ignore. We will see more change and the burden of change will be shared or even shift. A social shift cannot take place without allies. To be an ally you cannot be neutral or complicit, you have to be anti-racist. You have to raise your voice, take action against racism, if you fail to do this, you have chosen the side of injustice.
The work of becoming anti-racist is ongoing for all of us who were raised in a society built upon racism. What will you do to start or continue this work?
Written By Shannon Gumbs on behalf of Sea Change CoLab