The New Democratic Party, of which I’m a reluctant member, is holding a leadership race to replace Jack Layton, who died of cancer in August 2011.
Here are my thoughts about the NDP in general. They are all still true.
Romeo Saganash is Cree, he’s a lawyer and MP, and he is a survivor of residential schools, the active colonial structure in which legal, spiritual, emotional and sexual violence was perpetuated on Aboriginal children and youth up until 1996, when the last residential school closed.
1996.
That’s 16 years ago. That’s not ancient history.
Disgusting and shameful.
Romeo Saganash is running for the leadership of the NDP. He was elected to Canadian Parliament in May 2011 for the riding of Abitibi–Baie James–Nunavik–Eeyou, in Northern Quebec.
Read the rest of this entry »
So…. have you always wanted to learn about anti-oppression in a friendly and fun environment?
So….have you wondered about why people keep saying to you “You need to do your own work, I’m not here to educate you” ?
Well, here’s your chance.
Bring your questions, queries, conundrums and challenges!
This November 2011 I will be offering my first series of in-person workshops in downtown Toronto, at a lovely community centre located on the Bloor subway line.
I look forward to offering more workshops in the new year, and any suggestions for topics are most welcome.
Introduction to Anti-Oppression With Maysie What is Anti-Oppression? Why should you care about it? NOVEMBER 2011: 2 separate workshops about Anti-Oppression In these two independent workshops (sign up for one or both) the group will be discussing all the issues that you need to know to begin looking at how to be more aware of anti-oppression. We will talk about why this is important, as activists, as humans, as people working for social justice and a better world for all. We’ll talk about what you bring to the discussion, your privileges and marginalities, noticing when oppression is taking place and much more. There will be readings and exercises to explore all these issues in both personal ways and Workshop 1: Sat Nov 5, 1pm to 5pm $45 What is anti-oppression? What is social location? Systemic privilege and systemic marginality Exercises on noticing privilege, changing your attitudes, thoughts and assumptions Workshop 1 is theoretical with practical examples and exercises, and is a good basic introduction, covering some foundational issues regarding anti-oppression. Workshop 2: Sat Nov 12, 1pm to 5pm $45 Anti-oppression and being an ally Understanding privilege and intersectionality Activism and understanding and practicing anti-oppression in coalition with others (individuals and groups) Workshop 2 is a bit more practical and real-world-based and is a good complement to Workshop 1 but can also be taken on its own. To arrange payment and get the address of the workshops, email maysie@rogers.com or go to http://www.aangen.com/workshops.asp. No refunds. Maysie has an M.Ed in Adult Education (OISE/UT 1997) and has been conducting anti-racist anti-oppression workshops in workplaces with volunteer teams, staff teams, management teams and boards of directors since 1997. May is a mixed-race light skinned woman with privileged and marginalized social locations. She worked at the Toronto Women’s Bookstore for many years and has volunteered with a number of boards of directors including Chinese Canadian National Council-Toronto Chapter and Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts.
With Maysie
What is Anti-Oppression? Why should you care about it?
NOVEMBER 2011: 2 separate workshops about Anti-Oppression
In these two independent workshops (sign up for one or both) the group will be discussing all the issues that you need to know to begin looking at how to be more aware of anti-oppression. We will talk about why this is important, as activists, as humans, as people working for social justice and a better world for all. We’ll talk about what you bring to the discussion, your privileges and marginalities, noticing when oppression is taking place and much more. There will be readings and exercises to explore all these issues in both personal ways and
Workshop 1: Sat Nov 5, 1pm to 5pm $45
Workshop 1 is theoretical with practical examples and exercises, and is a good basic introduction, covering some foundational issues regarding anti-oppression.
Workshop 2: Sat Nov 12, 1pm to 5pm $45
Workshop 2 is a bit more practical and real-world-based and is a good complement to Workshop 1 but can also be taken on its own.
To arrange payment and get the address of the workshops, email maysie@rogers.com or go to http://www.aangen.com/workshops.asp. No refunds.
Maysie has an M.Ed in Adult Education (OISE/UT 1997) and has been conducting anti-racist anti-oppression workshops in workplaces with volunteer teams, staff teams, management teams and boards of directors since 1997. May is a mixed-race light skinned woman with privileged and marginalized social locations. She worked at the Toronto Women’s Bookstore for many years and has volunteered with a number of boards of directors including Chinese Canadian National Council-Toronto Chapter and Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts.
A good friend of mine has a blog at blackcoffeepoet.com.
Today he posted a piece called Stepping Out From Behind the Wall: Acknowledging Male Privilege & its connection to violence against women
I’m going to post a few exerpts here, but please go to his blog to read the entire article. And bookmark his blog too!
Privilege is unearned power which gives certain groups economic, social and political advantages. In our society white males benefit from this the most but all males benefit from this just by being born. Stoh:lo feminist, activist, and acclaimed writer Lee Maracle defines male privilege as, “A head start, a larger entitlement in the social, economic, and personal arena.”
Privilege is unearned power which gives certain groups economic, social and political advantages. In our society white males benefit from this the most but all males benefit from this just by being born.
Stoh:lo feminist, activist, and acclaimed writer Lee Maracle defines male privilege as, “A head start, a larger entitlement in the social, economic, and personal arena.”
He lists a “male privilege checklist” that is worth a look, and something I’ll be using in workshops and trainings.
Part 1 June 2010
What more can I write about it that I didn’t write already?
Maysie on June 12 2010
Maysie on June 26 2010
Maysie on June 26/27 2010
So, what’s still outstanding? Some activists who were preemptively arrested are still in jail. Some of those that have been tried and released are subject to appalling parole terms that severely restrict their legitimate movements in their communities.
It seems the mass violation of the civil rights of over 1000 people was a smokescreen.
This post has been a long time in the making.
This post is about a personal experience I had with a so-called progressive employer.
But I’m an anti-oppression educator. Silence doesn’t protect me. (that’s from a quote by Audre Lorde)
My realization that I needed to make my story (more) public happened while reading this lengthy article called White feminist privilege and feminist organizations. I had an epiphany of sorts.
Please read it. It’s a bit longer than most online articles but well worth it.
Sections of that blog speak directly to an experience I had a few months ago. I had been volunteering with a well-known leftist/progressive organization for years, then was a staff/employee/independent contractor person for about a year.
Then I was fired.
