TORONTO, June 2, 2020 – As anti-Black racism protests rip across North America in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, York University professors can discuss some of the systemic issues that have led to anti-Black racism in Canada and the U.S., its impact and the weaponization of race.
What can we learn and how do we ensure change starting with children? What are some approaches teachers can use in the classroom and do schools have the necessary materials that reflect diverse communities and celebrate their successes?
Associate Professor Uzo Anucha, York Research Chair in Youth and Contexts of Inequity in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the provincial academic director of the Youth Research and Evaluation Exchange, can discuss:
- Anti-Black racism
- The impact on the well-being of Black youth, their families and communities
Associate Professor Andrea Davis, an expert in race and gender in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, can comment on:
- Anti-Black racism in Canada and the United States
- Weaponization of race and racial fear
- Construction of protest, violence, and patriotism
- Constructions of Black masculinity
Associate Professor Jennifer Steele of the Faculty of Health and director of the Interpersonal Perception and Social Cognition Laboratory looks at why children show implicit racial bias from a young age.
“Racism continues to be a pervasive issue in North America and around the world. Racism directed at people of colour, and specifically Black Americans, creates inequities that are not consistent with our purported meritocracy,” says Steele. “The protests in response to George Floyd's needless and tragic death reflect people's frustration with a system that treats people differently based on the colour of their skin.”
She can speak about:
- The effects of systemic racism and discrimination, and dehumanization
- Why children need to be exposed to diversity in their lives for them to learn to appreciate diversity
- Why educational systems need materials that reflect increasingly diverse communities and why it is important that children learn about successful, contributing members of society from all walks of life
- Approaches for the classroom
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Media Contact:
Sandra McLean, York University Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca
