File: TTInterview02022018
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[Music]

Q: What is the significance

and importance of centering black, the

black community when it comes to

Black History Month. A: Well historically

black voices and black contributions

have been

isolated or not included or recognized.

So Black History Month is a space and a

time where we can recognize those voices

and contributions.

Q: And some would like to argue that

why is it that we center the black

community for an entire month but we

don't

dedicate other days or other months to

other races.

A: So anti-black racism is something that's

very real, especially in the western

hemisphere.

Black bodies have been exploited and

used, and Black History Month is a way to

recognize

what black bodies contributed to society

and also recognize the pain inflicted on

the black community

which has been different than other

racialized communities or other

communities.

Q: As the first black female

student union president, how do you think

student leaders should work towards

centering black voices in the community.

A: So I think Black History Month is just a

first step and should only be the first

step.

Ideally we're talking about black

experiences throughout the year

and 365 days of it. So, I think folks

making sure that when they look around

the table

who is within their leadership group? If

there's no black voices

they need to actively do that work and

also making sure that they're listening

to black students on campus

and representing those communities.

Q: On a faculty level, how do you think

faculty or someone who is in a position

of power should work towards centering

black voices in the black community

when they're in the workplace. A: So again

by making sure that black voices are

included within the curriculum when

we're talking about history

talking about history and black people

prior to slavery.

I'm talking about the contributions and

the inventions that black people have

done

in chemistry, in math, and biology. Talking

about the

the language that black individuals have

brought into the social work and the

sociology hemisphere. So ensuring that

black individuals are continuously being

recognized.

Q: And when it comes to working in an

environment where you are considered the

minority group.

How do you work towards ensuring that

your voice is being heard

when you are in a room where you're the

only black woman

A: Yeah, so anti-black racism is real and in

every place I've worked I've definitely

faced anti-black racism.

One thing I would say is to actively

work with your supervisors and your

bosses to educate yourself and your

colleagues

to make sure that folks understand how

they're perpetuating anti-black racism

and how they can stop that perpetuation.

Q: All right, so

for Black History Month, how is the

Ryerson Students Union working towards

ensuring that Black History Month is

celebrated or that the word is being

brought out?

A: So, we have six equity service centers

and the racialized students collective

is one that's going to be taking on a

lot of the work for Black History Month.

We have a bunch of events throughout the

entire month ranging from

some poetry workshops, ranging to speaker

series.

So you can definitely check that out on

the racialized students collective

social

media. And then also I know the

university will be collaborating with us

to do some other great events.

Q: All right now, um what would you like,

what is the message that you would like

to bring forward to the black community

here on campus.

Whether it's for you know, professors

faculty members,

women who are black, or even student

leaders.

A: I think folks who are in positions who

identify as black,

I think we understand the message. I

think it's the people who are

interacting with us that need to

understand how

anti-blackness can come in many forms. It

can be very microaggressive.

It can be through very macro ways, so

ensuring that folks

are checking themselves and educating

themselves to make sure they're not

harming black folks around them.

Q: All right, and on an academic level so

the kind of content that we're

constantly studying. What is something

that faculty members can do to ensure

that

different voices are being included

specifically the black community's voice.

A: So I'm in social work and we do a really

great job of making sure that like we're

talking about black scholars and black

professionals within the social work

sphere,

but i know that other programs aren't

doing this so ensuring that

when you're thinking of your curriculum

or thinking about readings that you're

bringing forward,

make sure that you're ensuring that

different voices are there whether it's

black voices, whether it's queer voices,

whether it's trans voices. Making sure

that you're providing a holistic

educational

experience and not just privilege in one

community.

Q: All right that's all we have for now.

Thank you for coming. Thanks for having me.

[Music]

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