The youth from the 1992 and 1993
conferences believed that education plays a very
important role in stopping racism. What people don't
understand they fear. This page summarizes what youth
discussed. If you want more information, check out other
products
we have, which were created by youth, for example,
Nobody's Born a Racist..
Youth at the 1992 and 1993
conferences strongly believed that standing up to your
peers if they do, act or say something racist is the best
way to combat racism. They suggested that putting
yourself in someone else's place and thinking about how
you would react to a racist comment made toward you, will
help to create understanding and empathy.
In the 1992 conference Final Report
it said " Education provides the key to stop ignorance -
the root of racism and prejudice. Through education,
equality is achieved. All Canadians must be sensitized
through education, communication and personal
interaction. "
Systemic racism is often the
underlying cause of a racial incident. Systematic Racism
was an important aspect in the " Nobody's Born a Racist
"booklet. This booklet contains tools, ideas, personal
stories and recommendations on resolving the issue of
racism. This booklet can be used as a tool to fight
racism, it can be used as a guide in a classroom or it
could be simply used at home because it covers a lot of
the issues youth are concerned about.
' Racism is not just an issue
facing a select segment of society. Racism affects
everyone. We all have a stake in a racism-free society.
The global village is here, and to be an effective
citizen of the world, you must be able to understand,
live and work with all of its citizens. '
' Changes won't occur until people
are willing to stand up, get angry and refuse to tolerate
the unjust treatment of fellow Canadians. Take action and
become an agent of change '
From:Nobody's Born a
Racist, booklet
No matter where racism originates,
the task lies in learning to be held accountable for our
own actions and taking positive steps to destroy racism,
for racism itself is destructive. Racism occurs in many
places. During the conferences many of the youth share
their personal stories to the group. Reality strikes
people when they hear someone else's real life story, and
it could change their life as well.
Personal
Stories
[top]
(real stories
from real youth, writers
are kept anonymous)
1. I am a sixteen year old girl. I
am involved in an interracial relationship which my
parents strongly disapprove of. When they found out that
I was going out with a black guy, they were furious. My
values are completely in conflict with theirs. My parents
keep trying to introduce me to young men "of the same
kind" and to people who they say "will not cause a
problem". Despite my parents objections, I continued my
relationship and soon my entire family and community
seemed to be gossiping behind my back. No matter where I
go in my community, someone always has something negative
to say to me. It seems like everyone is against me. Why
can't they all just leave me alone and accept my
decision?
2. At school everyone sticks to
their own ethnic group. It is quite odd for a person to
mix with another group outside of their own, but I did
not want to accept that. I have always been friends with
many people who are white therefore, I decided to hang
around with them, simply because they were my friends and
simply because they were nice to me. Unfortunately not
everyone wanted to accept my "choice of friends". I was
referred to as "white washed" and other such derogatory
slurs. They think that just because I act differently
from them and because I am not very "cultural" they come
to the conclusion that I am trying to be white; it seems
like I don't match up to their standards. I am not trying
to be anyone else - I am just trying to be me.
3. Ever since I started grade
school I have been learning about the history of Canada.
In every class and every textbook my people [First
Nations] have been portrayed as "savages". All of our
contributions and efforts have been excluded or
misinterpreted. Every time I have asked my teachers about
this selectivity they have either brushed it aside or
said that they'll take care of it later. I can't
understand how the very materials that we are using to
educate our youth are so blatantly untrue. I want to
challenge the system but I feel like it would be me
against the world.
4. I am a traditional Muslim girl
and therefore, it is required for me to wear a headdress
called a hijab at all times. I feel like many jobs are
unavailable to me simply because of this. So many jobs at
fast food restaurants, etc. would require me to wear a
hat or remove my hijab. I want to apply but I feel like
if I did then I would be challenging an entire system
that previously did not include people like me. The other
employees may resent me also for getting special
treatment. I don't want to do all that, I just want a
job.
