Teachers of colour
Speaking up, confronting systemic racism, and celebrating our differences By Neesha Blajberg, district learning support teacher, New Westminster I am inspired by younger teachers of colour. They are far more aware of the systemic racism that I have only recently become more aware of. MY GENERATION grew up with the ideology of “colour blindness,” the idea that race doesn’t matter because in Canada we don’t “see” race. We grew up thinking we were accepted for who we were, in spite of our colour. However, I have recently realized that we were accepted because we were ignoring our own heritage. It wasn’t a conscious decision; it was a survival technique. And it was reinforced by our eurocentric Canadian culture and education system. When my father asked me to study Indian history, I instead studied the kings and queens of England. When he asked me to read Indian literature, I instead read Austen and Hardy. I grew up rejecting part of my identity, without realizing it. When the BCTF decided to designate a Member-at-Large position for racialized teachers, I started to think about what that meant. “Racialized” was not a term I was familiar with. What does it mean to be racialized? Am I racialized? Why do we have to use a term that seems to indicate that others impose their prejudices around race on me? I started to identify myself as a woman of colour. At first I was uncomfortable saying
it out loud. I was aware that my discomfort came from knowing that I was making others uncomfortable by saying it out loud. But I knew my discomfort would be temporary, and I would have to let others deal with their own. One day I found myself saying out loud that it took me 50 years to realize I’d been assimilated by the dominant white culture. That first time it sounded like a joke, but each time I say it now, I know that underlying that statement there is still genuine shock and maybe even a little pain—I’m still processing it.
to be accepted. It is time for all of us to get comfortable with acknowledging, accepting, and celebrating our differences. That is why I admire those younger teachers of colour who already know this. They are not willing to reject their heritage in order to be accepted. And they shouldn’t have to.
It is time to stop saying there is work to be done: it is time to actually do the work.
So to those who are used to people of colour like myself being quiet, non-confrontational, and invisible, and are now being faced with people of colour who are speaking up, confronting systemic racism, and proudly reclaiming and affirming their identity, I give this advice: try understanding. Yes, people of colour do get angry, so when we do, remember that the anger is justified. Instead of judging, find your empathy. If you feel defensive, ask yourself why. And if you don’t know why, do some research. Because no one should have to ignore or reject their heritage in order
For information on free BCTF antiracism workshops, go to bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=21350
May | June 2019 TEACHER 13