Advocacy shouldn’t pander

Forcing social projects to accommodate the perspectives they’re trying to escape understandably demotivates people from engaging with them. Similar discouragement could result from criticism of critical race theory (CRT).

CRT acknowledges discrimination as existing not only between individuals but being systemically ingrained in North American sociopolitical frameworks.

Republican lawmakers accuse the theory of making white students feel bad and have banned it in several U.S. states.

This move is obviously not a humanitarian attempt at protecting everyone’s feelings.

Both racialized and non-racialized students will be disadvantaged by the lost encouragement to discover and dismantle their biases.

Disallowing critical race theory signals a disregard for the emotional and longterm well-being of racialized students, as well as a disinterest in de-popularizing discriminatory biases.

“Because I am a Girl” never excluded or villainized boys, nor does critical race theory target white people. Men and non-racialized people are unharmed by the advocacy implemented by both.

A club about female empowerment doesn’t have to appeal to men for one reason the club isn’t about them.

Some white students could feel uncomfortable learning about inherited privilege, but that discomfort shouldn’t be avoided over reducing the generational and continually revived trauma experienced by racialized students.

Advocacy should never aim to alienate members of the majority, but their participation isn’t the priority.

Coddling the majority reinforces existing value systems. Being challenging or unappealing to some is crucial to informing and mobilizing others.

We should all accept discomfort in the name of advocacy and education. Nobody benefits from pandering.

Cassandra is a fourth-year English student and The Journal’s Editorials Editor.

Want

Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston. Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The Journal’s Editorial Board acknowledges the traditional territories our newspaper is situated on have allowed us to pursue our mandate.

We recognize our responsibility to understand the truth of our history.

Editorial opinions expressed in The Journal are the sole responsibility of The Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers. 190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4

Editorial Office: 613-533-2800

Business Office: 613-533-6711

Fax: 613-533-6728

Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca

Please address complaints and grievances to the Editor in Chief and/or Managing Editor.

The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Metroland Media in Toronto, Ontario.

Contents © 2023 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal.