What did you do on Tuesday? If you watched the news, used Instagram, listed to Spotify or watched anything on YouTube, the chances are you came across a blank black square.

Do you know the meaning of the square? Click the link to watch the musician Alexis Ffrench explain why he has been involved in Blackout Tuesday: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52893017 Systemic Racism: Understanding, Challenge and Change

A message to students: When we disagree with something or see a problem in society, it is the responsibility of everyone to listen to others, speak out and take action. As a student of Isaac Newton Academy you are leaders. Now, and in the future, you have the power to change the world and make it a better place. In everything we do, we want to support you to use your BRIDGES dispositions and make a positive difference to the society we live in.

About this lesson: This lesson discusses racism and inequality. This will lead to a range of emotions which could include becoming upset or angry. Please speak to your parents/carers or contact your Pastoral Leader (via the school email address or Edmodo) if there are issues you would like to discuss further. Systemic Racism: Understanding, Challenge and Change

This lesson will work best if you can discuss the issues. Discussion points are in green.

Are either of the following possible?

With permission of your Explore the topic with a parents, text a friend to family member– how is their arrange a video call so you opinion different to yours? can do some of the activities together.

If this is not possible use the discussion points as questions to think about on your own. You could write some ideas down to discuss with someone later. Systemic Racism: Understanding, Challenge and Change

Learning Objectives: • To reflect the impact protests against ’s death are having. • To use reasoning to debate whether change in the US and around the world is likely to happen.

BRIDGES: throughout this lesson, and when thinking about this issue generally, you will be using and growing lots of your dispositions.

Key terms: before we start, we need to define some key terms used in the title and throughout the lesson.

• Protest: An occasion where people show they disagree with something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs etc. • Racism: When someone views or treats another person or group of people differently because of their ethnicity, nationality or race. • Systemic racism: how racial discrimination can affect the job prospects, wealth, criminal justice, education and general treatment of ethnic groups within a society. What is systemic racism?

Racism is where someone thinks a person is not good enough because of their colour, ethnicity, nationality or race. This means that they are treated differently (racial discrimination).

When you think of racism, you might think of groups of people saying hurtful comments or making unfair stereotypes. While this is true, and you should speak out when this happens, it can be more complicated than this.

Because people in society hold racist views, it affects the way the whole country works. We call this systemic racism. Systemic racism can be more difficult to see in person, but there are lots of statistics that show that it is happening… Race inequality exists in the US, the UK, and around the world…

Study the statistics. Discuss which is most shocking to you? Why? What do these statistics say about fairness and justice.

Black Americans are 3x more likely to be excluded from school than white Americans2.

Black Americans are 2x more likely to be unemployed than white Americans1.

72% of white Americans own their own house, whereas only 42% of black Americans do4.

Only 13% of people in the US are black, yet 40% of the people in prison are black3. Race inequality exists in the US, the UK, and around the world… Study the statistics. Discuss which is most shocking to you? Why? What do these statistics say about fairness and justice. Statistics in the UK:

Black workers with degrees earn 23.1% less on average that white workers with degrees.

Black people who leave school with A-levels typically get paid 14.3% less than their white peers.

Only 6% of black school leavers attend a Russell Group university as compared to 11% of their white peers. In England 37.4% of Black people and 44.4% of Asian people felt unsafe around their local area compared with 29.2% of white people Why has racism, inequality and systemic racism been in the news a lot recently?

On the 23rd February, Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man, was shot and killed by the white men Gregory and Travis McMichael while he was out jogging as they thought he was a burglar. The two men were charged with murder on the 7th May, only after a video of the incident went viral.

On May 25th, George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was arrested for allegedly using a fake $20 note. While Floyd was handcuffed and physically restrained by 3 police officers, a 4th white officer , put his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes 46 seconds. Floyd was unconscious for almost 3 minutes before the police officer was removed. Floyd died shortly after.

Videos went viral in which Floyd can be heard saying “I Discussion – do you think can’t breathe” and witnesses pointing out that he wasn’t there are other similar cases? moving. The officer in question has now been charged Have you heard of any? Why with second degree murder and the other 3 officers do some make the news and have been charged with aiding and abetting murder. others do not? Why has racism, inequality and systemic racism been in the news a lot recently? A case you may not have heard about

On the same day George Floyd was killed (25th May), Christian Cooper (a black man) calmly asked Amy Cooper (a white woman, no relation) to put her dog on a lead because of the park rules protecting local wildlife. She refused. He remained calm throughout the incident and was presenting no threat to Amy Cooper. When he started filming her refusing the follow the rules of the park, she said she would “call the police and say an African American man was threatening her life”.

Discussion: based on what you have already looked at, reflect on why she assumed an African-American man would fear the police?

Challenge: Can you explain how this is an example of systemic racism? Why has racism, inequality and systemic racism been in the news a lot recently?

Since George Floyd’s death, protests continue to take place across America, as well as in Toronto, Berlin, London, Manchester and Cardiff. Even though we are in the middle of a pandemic and many of these cities remain in some form of lockdown, people have felt the need to demonstrate against the injustices in their societies.

This isn’t the first time that the movement has had to risk their safety and take to the streets to demand change. It was founded in the USA in 2013, but there are now groups in countries around the world, and have had to protest police brutalities a number of times.

However, many people feel like this time will be different – that more people are noticing and understanding the importance of not just being ‘non-racist’ but openly opposing racism. So will this time cause a real change? Why the Black Lives Matter movement is so important.

The Black Lives Matter movement focusses on shining a light on and fighting the systemic abuse of black people across the globe. Some people have responded to this with the comment ‘’, suggesting that we should not just be focussing on black lives. The people who are responding this way are missing the point of the movement and undermining the message that the movement is trying to get across. For example: • The focus is on black lives specifically as it is black people who are currently being abused and killed, much more so than another group in society. • The Black Lives Matter movement is not suggesting that only black lives matter but that we need to highlight and act on the current injustices being done to black people.

This image helps to sum up why the Black Lives Matter movement is important. Just like all houses are important, all lives are important. However if one house is burning down you need to focus on that one, just as black people are facing injustice so the focus needs to be on their lives Standing up and speaking out

More people than ever are showing leadership by standing up and speaking out against racism in America and around the world… but what’s being said? Standing up and speaking out – in the USA

“It’s either COVID is killing us, cops are killing us, the economy is killing Priscilla Borker, us… Either way, we’re still being Social Worker at the killed. So we don’t mind taking this Brooklyn demonstrations risk.”

“Mr Floyd died in our hands… Silence and inaction, you are complicit. If there were one solitary voice that would have intervened and acted, that’s what I would have hoped for. That did not occur.”

Medaria Arradondo, Chief of the Minneapolis Police

Discussion: • Do you think you are right to protest even during lockdown? What is your justification? • Do you think the Chief of Police is correct? Should the other police who were present be prosecuted? Standing up and speaking out – in the USA

“'Let's do this a different way... let's stop thinking our voices don't matter, and vote. Not just for the President but for the preliminaries. Vote for everyone... educate yourself and know who you are voting for...that's how we're gonna hit them.'

Terrence Floyd, Preliminaries: Earlier elections where George Floyd’s each state votes for who they want to brother represent them.

“There is a change in mindset that's taking place, a greater recognition, that we can do better… this is due to the mobilisation of young people across the country who put themselves out on the line to make a difference.”

Barack Obama, Former President of the United States

Discussion: • Do you think Terrence Floyd is right? Will or can voting make a difference? • Do you agree with Obama that there is a change in mindset taking place in the USA? Is this needed in the UK too? Is this happening in the UK? Standing up and speaking out – in the UK “There's only so much communities and other backgrounds can take - especially black people. It's been going on for hundreds of years and people are tired and people are ready for change…We need to actually implement change and highlight the places that do need changes.”

Raheem Sterling, footballer

“There comes a point in every black human’s life, no matter how much money you have or what you have achieved, you realise racism does not exclude you...My reality is constantly feeling like I have to work ten times harder and longer to mark my case in the group, because my talent alone isn’t enough.”

Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Little Mix member

Discussion: • What do you think are some of places that do need changes that Raheem Sterling is talking about might be? • How do you think that the concepts that Leigh-Anne is putting forward link to systemic racism in the UK? Standing up and speaking out – in the UK Click on the video link to find out what a selection of young Black British people are thinking and feeling: https://safeshare.tv/x/clQJgWifap4 As you watch, use your listening and empathy. You will also have to reflect on who you are – your age, gender, ethnicity and cultural background. Choose three points to pause the video to discuss what you have just heard. Is change happening?

We are now going to use reasoning and transferring to judge whether change is going to happen. Some people argue that this time it is different. Other people argue that systemic racism has occurred for centuries with very little progress and that history will repeat itself.

On a piece of paper copy the scale below. The following slides have information and views about whether or not change is happening. Use the scale and annotate to with evidence to justify. It is likely you will make notes across the scale, see example below.

The Chief of Police calling for all Terrance Floyd is encouraging officers to be prosecuted. This is people to vote, this will only be not evidence of change, this is the partially effective as voting very minimum we expect of the alone will not be enough to law. change society. The police officer who knelt on his neck has been arrested and charged with second degree murder and manslaughter. In some past cases, officers have not been arrested.

After petitions and protests, the other police officers that were present have been charged with “aiding and abetting” murder, which means that though they didn’t kill him, they allowed his death to happen.

Annotate your scale… Discuss with your justification. Black people in America Changes have happened, but they have often have been fighting against been very slow. Martin Luther King Jr started racism for hundreds of arguing for equality over 50 years ago, but the fight years, and yet it still exists. is still happening today.

Watch James Baldwin talk about the fight for equality in America:

https://safeshare.tv/x/OCUlE5ldPvM

Annotate your scale… Discuss with your justification. Anti-racism protests around the world are happening, in the UK, Canada, France, New Zealand, Germany, Syria and more...

UK Syria

This has lead to more stories coming out about against the black community is different countries, including here in the UK.

Annotate your scale… Discuss with your justification. Influential figures, such as footballers, actors and singers, and also brands have spoken out about it, which has helped spread awareness.

Annotate your scale… Discuss with your justification. US President Donald Trump said he was “sickened” by the death of George Floyd and that “justice will be served.”

He also said that vandalising and destroying buildings, stealing from shops and violence would not be tolerated, and that the army may have to get involved to stop non- peaceful protests.

However, many people feel that the American government is not doing enough to discourage racism, while former defence secretary has claimed Trump is trying “to divide us”.

Annotate your scale… Discuss with your justification. Social media is being used to encourage more people to recognise the causes and symptoms of racism and to be involved in social change. Social media is being used to encourage more people to recognise the causes and symptoms of racism and to be involved in social change.

#BlackoutTuesday, an initiative to post a black square in support of the BLM movement, was hash- tagged by 28.5 million people on Instagram. However, critics say that sharing pictures isn’t going far enough.

Annotate your scale… Discuss with your justification. Final Reflections

“Everyone needs “I think the to...” “I don’t think...” protests...”

Final discussion – do you think these recent protests will lead to lasting change? Why/why not?

“It will take more “It will be than...” “After something like necessary...” this, we have to...”

Challenge: What more needs to be done to cause lasting change? Final Reflections Will it be different this time? Below is a summary of some of the key arguments:

YES NO • As many have said, this time feels • Until world leaders accept there’s a different as more people are taking problem and act upon it, there won’t be notice. any change. • World leaders and influential figures • Racism and police brutality are ingrained around the world have taken notice, in many societies. It will take more than a which will encourage change. few protests to end that. • More people are now open to being • It’s not just about protesting, but also educated about the importance of anti- voting for the right people who can cause racism. That’s going to make a difference. change. • It is now almost impossible to ignore the • While the protests started off well, the need for change. pockets of violence and looting have taken away from the cause. Final Reflections

What can you do to support the Black Lives Matter movement?

Use some of these ideas to help you.

Speak up against Teach others about Challenge racist intolerance and racism. the barriers being stereotypes or faced. assumptions.

Listen and learn from Use your platform for good Don’t be afraid to ask other people’s and spread this message on questions if you want to experiences. social media. know more.

Learn more about the BLM movement Remember just because it’s not and history. Use the links on the next happening to you, doesn’t mean it’s not slide to help you. happening.