Racism • BC Hate Crimes website: https://hatecrimebc.ca/contact/ • Are you experiencing racism in the workplace? Available on the BCTF Antiracism Poster Resources web page • Racism and COVID-19. Available on TeachBC • Racism and COVID-19: Supporting IBPOC teachers. Available on TeachBC • Racism in Canada Timeline and video. Available on the BCTF Antiracism Poster Resources web page • Show Racism the Red Card teaching resource. Available on the BCTF Antiracism Lesson Plans web page • For additional antiracism resources and lessons for students at all grade levels, consult the BCTF Antiracism web pages under Social Justice on the BCTF website.
Racism and COVID-19 As the outbreak of COVID-19 has increased people’s fear and anxiety, so too has it magnified the historic legacy and present reality of racism in society. The relationship of trust and support that teachers have developed with their students may lead students or their family members to feel safe enough to disclose an incident of racism. This short document provides teachers with information about resources and services to support people experiencing racism, as well as resources for teachers and students to build the necessary skills to advocate for those impacted by racism.
Racism and COVID-19: Supporting IBPOC teachers The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the incidence of racism. As teachers who identify as IBPOC, you may bear burdens that make you particularly vulnerable at this time. This short document provides IBPOC teachers who are experiencing the impacts of racism with information about resources and support services. 6
“This is Your New Normal” By Maryam Adrangi, Burnaby teacher
I
get suspicious every time I hear this phrase because “normal” can mean so many different things. For some people, the new normal means lineups at the grocery store, working full time while taking care of a toddler, or teaching from a laptop. For others, the new normal means that every time they leave the house, they are facing an unprecedented amount of fear of discrimination. For some, the new normal is a little more nefarious. For People of Colour during the pandemic, the new normal means increasing acts of racism and further entrenching the ways in which we experience structural racism. Asian and Indigenous people are reporting an increased number of hate crimes and are being told, “Go back to where you came from.” Many low-income earners and People of Colour are deemed essential workers but remain undervalued and left begging for proper safety measures or personal protective equipment. Black people highlight that wearing a mask puts them at an increased risk of being criminalized. It is People of Colour from many racialized backgrounds who are being shamed for not following social distancing protocols, when having the ability to follow these guidelines is actually a privilege. These manifestations of racism are on the rise as a result of the pandemic. Unless we act, this is our new normal. When the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic back in March, I anticipated the swath of anti-Asian sentiment that was to come. The WHO’s announcement was accompanied by President Trump declaring COVID-19 a “Chinese virus,” finger-pointing China for mismanaging the outbreak, and pronouncing that anyone travelling from China should quarantine for 14 days. With all this piled on top of the antiAsian sentiment that is already prevalent in BC, it is no surprise that there has been a record increase in anti-Asian vandalism and graffiti, as well as physical violence and harassment. It was only a matter of time before other racialized communities came forward to talk about how they were also disproportionately experiencing the social and economic implications of this virus. The list of stories is endless. There are many news articles about the incidents of Asian, Indigenous, Black, and Brown people being shamed, yelled at, or attacked in the streets for not wearing masks or being accused of looking threatening because they are wearing masks. Neighbourhoods made up of predominantly People of Colour are being monitored more closely by police to ensure that they are abiding by social distancing protocols. Meanwhile, city parks and beaches are packed full of White families and friends enjoying sunsets and fresh air—within six feet of each other. These examples don’t even begin to address how the downturn in the economy has taken an even larger toll on People of Colour. Many newcomers, immigrants, and refugees find themselves in BCTF Social Justice Newsletter, Summer/Fall 2020
