Walthamstow Academy Sixth Form Bulletin. 03 July 2020
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Walthamstow Academy Sixth Form Bulletin. 03 July 2020 Bulletin Focus – Black Lives Matter How can I be anti-racist? Anti-racism is actively identifying and speaking out against racism in organizational structures, policies, practices and attitudes, every time you witness it. If something makes you uncomfortable, voice your discomfort and you are being anti-racist. What is white privilege? Theconsciouskid on Instagram summarise what white privilege is really clearly. They describe it as, “White supremacy is a system of structural and societal racism which privileges white people over everyone else, regardless of the presence or absence of racial hatred. White racial advantages occur at both a collective and an individual level.” White privilege is defined by the Oxford England Dictionary as “the inherent advantages possessed by a white person on the basis of their race in a society characterised by racial inequality and injustice”. Actions speak louder than words what is helpful to hear, are phrases like these: • “I’ve found an organisation that helps in these types of instances and I’ve donated money.” • “I’ve brought this topic up to my co-workers and family so we can talk through what’s happened.” • “I’ve researched more on this and I have learned more about the history of this particular race issue.” Black Lives Matter Black lives matter movement. Edited by Folakemi Omoyinmi The black lives matter movement is an international human rights movement, originating in the African American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. It was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. The mission of the BLM movement is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities by the state and vigilantes. Visit https://blacklivesmatter.com/ for more information on the BLM movement. The systems of oppression that have had an impact on black people Slavery started in the year 1619. People from Africa were kidnapped and forced into slavery in the American colonies and exploited to work as indentured servants and labour in the production of crops such as tobacco and cotton. Slave masters had complete control over their slaves. The civil War in America had officially abolished slavery in 1865, but it didn’t end discrimination against black people in America as they were still treated as second-class citizens. Black people continued to endure the devastating effects of racism, especially in the south of the US. The introduction of Jim Crow laws further marginalised African-Americans by denying them the right to hold jobs, get an education or other opportunities. Black people couldn’t use the same public facilities as white people, live in many of the same towns or go to the same schools. Interracial marriage was illegal, and most black people couldn’t vote because they were unable to pass voter literacy tests. Those who attempted to defy Jim Crow laws often faced arrest, fines, jail sentences, violence and death. Rosa Parks, the woman who refused to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man, acted as a major catalyst for the civil rights movement which began in 1954. Civil rights activist such as Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X are very important leaders who are well known for their methods which led to the ending of legal racial discrimination in the US. Even though this occurred, black people have since and are still even today, treated unfavourably by others. There was also a period of mass incarceration in the US which oppressed many black people and in particular, black males. Mass incarceration refers to a large number of people incarcerated in the US prison system, especially black people. Mandatory minimum sentencing, police practices, and harsher laws have contributed to the rise of the term mass incarceration. Many argued that these laws put in place did not favour black people, most of which were from poor areas. For example, harsher laws such as increasing the amount to post bail meant that many black people who had committed petty crimes or even those who were innocent were not able to get out. Once they were in, that was it. In July 2017, statistics found that there are 41.4 million people in the US that are black/african-american which represents 12.7 percent of the whole population. However, they represented 33% of the US prison population. Many people argue that the 13th amendment to the US constitution has also led to the continued oppression of black people. The 13th amendment states that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States. Therefore, despite slavery being officially ‘abolished’ in 1865, many still argue that due to the imprisonment of black people today, slavery still exists but just in a modern form. Visit https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery for more on Slavery. Visit https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement for more on Jim crow laws and the civil rights movement in America. Visit https://www.vox.com/2015/7/13/8913297/mass-incarceration-maps-charts for more on mass incarceration. Visit https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/thirteenth-amendment for more on the 13th amendment. Films and documentaries to watch to educate yourself on racism and black oppression 1. 13th - This documentary from Ava DuVernay explores the inequality of the US prison system, where Black prisoners are hugely over-represented. While the film is named after the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the United States in 1865, DuVernay argues that slavery has taken on a new form with the mass incarceration of Black people. Available to watch on netflix. Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6IXQbXPO3I 2. Just Mercy - Telling the true story of a lawyer and social justice activist, Just Mercy is a heart- wrenching look at the over-representation of Black men on death row. Sentenced to death despite no evidence or just because they "looked guilty", this film will make you understand how, for many, being Black is enough of a crime to die for. Available to watch on amazon prime or other streaming services e.g. 123 movies. Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVQbeG5yW78 3. The Hate U Give - The Hate U Give tells the story of Starr, who witnesses her friend shot dead by police after reaching for his hairbrush. While friends and family from Starr's neighbourhood take to the streets to protest, her predominantly white private school friends and boyfriend struggle to understand. An important watch for how not to use your white privilege. Available to watch on now TV or other streaming services e.g. 123 movies. Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MM8OkVT0hw 4. When They See Us - This miniseries tells the story of the Central Park 5 – five young Black men falsely accused and prosecuted for the sexual assault of a white woman. With no evidence or DNA, the group still served sentences ranging from six to 13 years in prison for crimes they didn't commit; another damning story of systemic racism in the judicial system. Available to watch on netflix. Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHbOt2M8md0 5. 12 Years a Slave - Based on Solomon Northup's memoirs of being born a free man then sold into slavery in 1841, this film doesn't hold back on the brutal, degrading and fatal reality of slavery. The way racism and oppression manifests in society may have changed, but the scars of slavery are important to understand. Available to watch on netflix. Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z02Ie8wKKRg 6. American Son - In this film, time passes and tension mounts in a Florida police station as an estranged interracial couple awaits news of their missing teenage son. Available to watch on netflix. Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbKZlSwAS3M Songs to listen to which explain what black people go through, white privilege and racism in general (please note the songs include swear words and inappropriate language) 1. DAVE - Black 2. JOYNER LUCAS - I’m not racist 3. MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS FT JAMILA WOODS - White privilege II 4. BEYONCE FT KENDRICK LAMAR - Freedom 5. LIL BABY - The bigger picture Books to read to educate yourself on racism and which talk about racism and white privilege in general 1. Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race - Renni Eddo-Lodge Reni Eddo-Lodge wrote about her frustration with the way that discussions of race and racism in Britain were being led by those who weren't affected by it. Exploring issues from eradicated black history to the political purpose of white dominance, whitewashed feminism to the inextricable link between class and race, Reni Eddo-Lodge offers a timely and essential new framework for how to see, acknowledge and counter racism. 2. Me and white supremacy - Layla F Saad A blistering expose of how entrenched white privilege is in modern society, Saad’s Me and White Supremacy blog dug deep into the - often unconscious – racial prejudice which many white people took completely for granted. Packed with practical exercises and enlightening socio-political context, the book of the blog offers numerous ways of transforming the discourse surrounding institutionalised racism. Me and White Supremacy teaches readers how to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of colour, and in turn, help other white people do better, too. 3. White fragility - Robin DiAngelo Anger.