thank you very much I always find it very moving and very
I always find it very moving and very
I always find it very moving and very humbling when someone can actually give
humbling when someone can actually give
humbling when someone can actually give you a very personal touch with an
you a very personal touch with an
you a very personal touch with an introduction so I thank you very much
introduction so I thank you very much
introduction so I thank you very much for that finding courage to be an ally
for that finding courage to be an ally
for that finding courage to be an ally in the fight for rights when I think
in the fight for rights when I think
in the fight for rights when I think about the work that I’ve done over the
about the work that I’ve done over the
about the work that I’ve done over the years and people have called me fearless
years and people have called me fearless
years and people have called me fearless the reality is I’m not fearless I
the reality is I’m not fearless I
the reality is I’m not fearless I experience a lot of fear past and
experience a lot of fear past and
experience a lot of fear past and present but I find the courage to go
present but I find the courage to go
present but I find the courage to go beyond the fear that I may be feeling in
beyond the fear that I may be feeling in
beyond the fear that I may be feeling in the moment and so today I want to talk a
the moment and so today I want to talk a
the moment and so today I want to talk a little bit of both that you know living
little bit of both that you know living
little bit of both that you know living at the living with the intersection of
at the living with the intersection of
at the living with the intersection of oppression so I personally live with
oppression so I personally live with
oppression so I personally live with race gender oppression but I also know
race gender oppression but I also know
race gender oppression but I also know about oppression based on age based on
about oppression based on age based on
about oppression based on age based on ability based on socioeconomic class
ability based on socioeconomic class
ability based on socioeconomic class based on gender gender identity sexual
based on gender gender identity sexual
based on gender gender identity sexual orientation you know all of those isms
orientation you know all of those isms
orientation you know all of those isms and then if you go to the second layer
and then if you go to the second layer
and then if you go to the second layer oppression based on family status
oppression based on family status
oppression based on family status citizenship status all of those things
citizenship status all of those things
citizenship status all of those things impact on the lives of people every
impact on the lives of people every
impact on the lives of people every single day and when we think about
single day and when we think about
single day and when we think about oppression one of the things I think
oppression one of the things I think
oppression one of the things I think that really helps us and it helps help
that really helps us and it helps help
that really helps us and it helps help us move forward is actually the role of
us move forward is actually the role of
us move forward is actually the role of allies and allies help us in that in
allies and allies help us in that in
allies and allies help us in that in that whole movement I spent I have spent
that whole movement I spent I have spent
that whole movement I spent I have spent a lot of time and especially in my early
a lot of time and especially in my early
a lot of time and especially in my early days of my career I’ve spent a lot of
days of my career I’ve spent a lot of
days of my career I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on oppression focusing on
time focusing on oppression focusing on
time focusing on oppression focusing on my race and gender oppression race
my race and gender oppression race
my race and gender oppression race gender and class oppression as if that
gender and class oppression as if that
gender and class oppression as if that was all of who I am as if that was all
was all of who I am as if that was all
was all of who I am as if that was all that I embodied I really started my work
that I embodied I really started my work
that I embodied I really started my work as social activist as an anti-racist
as social activist as an anti-racist
as social activist as an anti-racist and focus there and then one day an ally
and focus there and then one day an ally
and focus there and then one day an ally that I admired a great deal talked to me
that I admired a great deal talked to me
that I admired a great deal talked to me about my privilege and I was in a state
about my privilege and I was in a state
about my privilege and I was in a state of shock a state of denial and probably
of shock a state of denial and probably
of shock a state of denial and probably a little bit of anger
a little bit of anger
a little bit of anger I mean who gives this who gave this
I mean who gives this who gave this
I mean who gives this who gave this person permission to tell me that I had
person permission to tell me that I had
person permission to tell me that I had privilege and then he started to tell me
privilege and then he started to tell me
privilege and then he started to tell me about the privilege I held at the time I
about the privilege I held at the time I
about the privilege I held at the time I was a doctoral student at University of
was a doctoral student at University of
was a doctoral student at University of Sheffield in England I had a job waiting
Sheffield in England I had a job waiting
Sheffield in England I had a job waiting for me back here at Dalhousie I had a
for me back here at Dalhousie I had a
for me back here at Dalhousie I had a class position as a Canadian citizen I
class position as a Canadian citizen I
class position as a Canadian citizen I could travel anywhere I wanted to in the
could travel anywhere I wanted to in the
could travel anywhere I wanted to in the world as a heterosexual female I had
world as a heterosexual female I had
world as a heterosexual female I had heterosexist privilege as what I called
heterosexist privilege as what I called
heterosexist privilege as what I called a temporarily able-bodied person I was
a temporarily able-bodied person I was
a temporarily able-bodied person I was physically able to do all of the things
physically able to do all of the things
physically able to do all of the things I wanted to do mentally able to do all
I wanted to do mentally able to do all
I wanted to do mentally able to do all of the things that I wanted to do I was
of the things that I wanted to do I was
of the things that I wanted to do I was living with incredible privilege and if
living with incredible privilege and if
living with incredible privilege and if I wasn’t owning the privilege you can
I wasn’t owning the privilege you can
I wasn’t owning the privilege you can rest assured that I certainly wasn’t
rest assured that I certainly wasn’t
rest assured that I certainly wasn’t using it and not using it in a way that
using it and not using it in a way that
using it and not using it in a way that could help move others along that was a
could help move others along that was a
could help move others along that was a transformative moment for me personally
transformative moment for me personally
transformative moment for me personally and I think it also transformed my
and I think it also transformed my
and I think it also transformed my politics transform my work transformed
politics transform my work transformed
politics transform my work transformed my my mission as a social justice
my my mission as a social justice
my my mission as a social justice advocate and it led me to this work what
advocate and it led me to this work what
advocate and it led me to this work what I call the triple a paradigm a social
I call the triple a paradigm a social
I call the triple a paradigm a social justice approach to challenging
justice approach to challenging
justice approach to challenging oppression so one of the things that I
oppression so one of the things that I
oppression so one of the things that I realized that we need these these triple
realized that we need these these triple
realized that we need these these triple A’s these three A’s awareness if we’re
A’s these three A’s awareness if we’re
A’s these three A’s awareness if we’re not aware of the oppression that’s
not aware of the oppression that’s
not aware of the oppression that’s around us that we witness that we even
around us that we witness that we even
around us that we witness that we even experience Harriet Tubman was asked once
experience Harriet Tubman was asked once
experience Harriet Tubman was asked once how many slaves did you free and I think
how many slaves did you free and I think
how many slaves did you free and I think she said something to the effect I’ve
she said something to the effect I’ve
she said something to the effect I’ve freed a thousand but I could have freed
freed a thousand but I could have freed
freed a thousand but I could have freed a thousand more if they’d known they
a thousand more if they’d known they
a thousand more if they’d known they were enslaved so building awareness both
were enslaved so building awareness both
were enslaved so building awareness both for those who live with oppression
for those who live with oppression
for those who live with oppression and also for those who witness it that
and also for those who witness it that
and also for those who witness it that awareness is key to moving along key to
awareness is key to moving along key to
awareness is key to moving along key to social change and the next step then is
social change and the next step then is
social change and the next step then is really analysis if we don’t develop an
really analysis if we don’t develop an
really analysis if we don’t develop an analysis of those issues then we’re
analysis of those issues then we’re
analysis of those issues then we’re bound to make mistakes we’re bound to do
bound to make mistakes we’re bound to do
bound to make mistakes we’re bound to do missteps and once you have a clear
missteps and once you have a clear
missteps and once you have a clear in-depth critical analysis then the
in-depth critical analysis then the
in-depth critical analysis then the third step is action now I’ve been that
third step is action now I’ve been that
third step is action now I’ve been that person who’s gone from awareness to
person who’s gone from awareness to
person who’s gone from awareness to action you become aware of something and
action you become aware of something and
action you become aware of something and you think you know this is not right I’m
you think you know this is not right I’m
you think you know this is not right I’m going to do something about it and
going to do something about it and
going to do something about it and you’re bound to make mistakes and I’ve
you’re bound to make mistakes and I’ve
you’re bound to make mistakes and I’ve made those mistakes and so getting to
made those mistakes and so getting to
made those mistakes and so getting to that place of action after you’ve done
that place of action after you’ve done
that place of action after you’ve done the analysis and so sometimes it takes a
the analysis and so sometimes it takes a
the analysis and so sometimes it takes a bit more time sometimes it takes more
bit more time sometimes it takes more
bit more time sometimes it takes more time than perhaps you think you have but
time than perhaps you think you have but
time than perhaps you think you have but it’s so important to take the time to go
it’s so important to take the time to go
it’s so important to take the time to go through the triple a if I’m building on
through the triple a if I’m building on
through the triple a if I’m building on that work I would add a fourth a now and
that work I would add a fourth a now and
that work I would add a fourth a now and that’s the the the a for allies
that’s the the the a for allies
that’s the the the a for allies I believe that allies are so significant
I believe that allies are so significant
I believe that allies are so significant to this journey of social justice allies
to this journey of social justice allies
to this journey of social justice allies help help us allies help those who are
help help us allies help those who are
help help us allies help those who are marginalized move forward and one of my
marginalized move forward and one of my
marginalized move forward and one of my students shared with me as from social
students shared with me as from social
students shared with me as from social media a woman named Kayla Reed wrote an
media a woman named Kayla Reed wrote an
media a woman named Kayla Reed wrote an acronym about an ally and I’ve added and
acronym about an ally and I’ve added and
acronym about an ally and I’ve added and built on that so she says a for
built on that so she says a for
built on that so she says a for awareness being aware being aware being
awareness being aware being aware being
awareness being aware being aware being aware of what’s required
so a for awareness Ella learn and listen
so a for awareness Ella learn and listen learn and listen learn and listen from
learn and listen learn and listen from
learn and listen learn and listen from the oppressed so allies really you don’t
the oppressed so allies really you don’t
the oppressed so allies really you don’t need to take affront you don’t have to
need to take affront you don’t have to
need to take affront you don’t have to be in the front row you don’t need a
be in the front row you don’t need a
be in the front row you don’t need a front row seat to be an ally you don’t
front row seat to be an ally you don’t
front row seat to be an ally you don’t need a front row seat to someone else’s
need a front row seat to someone else’s
need a front row seat to someone else’s oppression so listen and learn
oppression so listen and learn
oppression so listen and learn so allies need to listen and learn the
so allies need to listen and learn the
so allies need to listen and learn the second L leverage your privilege and I
second L leverage your privilege and I
second L leverage your privilege and I add to that leverage your privilege and
add to that leverage your privilege and
add to that leverage your privilege and your power so as I was saying earlier I
your power so as I was saying earlier I
your power so as I was saying earlier I wasn’t leveraging my privilege if I
wasn’t leveraging my privilege if I
wasn’t leveraging my privilege if I wasn’t even acknowledging that I had
wasn’t even acknowledging that I had
wasn’t even acknowledging that I had privilege and so it’s so important no
privilege and so it’s so important no
privilege and so it’s so important no matter where we are no matter what
matter where we are no matter what
matter where we are no matter what social location we occupy what space we
social location we occupy what space we
social location we occupy what space we occupy if we’re if we’re in a place
occupy if we’re if we’re in a place
occupy if we’re if we’re in a place where we have some privilege and we have
where we have some privilege and we have
where we have some privilege and we have some power is what we do with it we
some power is what we do with it we
some power is what we do with it we don’t have to apologize for the
don’t have to apologize for the
don’t have to apologize for the privilege that we hold we don’t have to
privilege that we hold we don’t have to
privilege that we hold we don’t have to apologize for being in positions of
apologize for being in positions of
apologize for being in positions of power it’s what we do with it that
power it’s what we do with it that
power it’s what we do with it that really matters that’s where the
really matters that’s where the
really matters that’s where the accountability comes in and then why
accountability comes in and then why
accountability comes in and then why yield the floor you know sometimes when
yield the floor you know sometimes when
yield the floor you know sometimes when allies are working with people who are
allies are working with people who are
allies are working with people who are marginalized and when people empower
marginalized and when people empower
marginalized and when people empower themselves and sometimes there’s a lot
themselves and sometimes there’s a lot
themselves and sometimes there’s a lot of anger and people can be triggered by
of anger and people can be triggered by
of anger and people can be triggered by that they can find themselves in a space
that they can find themselves in a space
that they can find themselves in a space of discomfort around people’s anger
of discomfort around people’s anger
of discomfort around people’s anger there’s a lot of social injustice that
there’s a lot of social injustice that
there’s a lot of social injustice that ought to make us angry and we need to be
ought to make us angry and we need to be
ought to make us angry and we need to be willing to just sit and listen and learn
willing to just sit and listen and learn
willing to just sit and listen and learn and sometimes we need to listen and
and sometimes we need to listen and
and sometimes we need to listen and learn through that place of anger and
learn through that place of anger and
learn through that place of anger and know that that’s alright
know that that’s alright
know that that’s alright and that is where courage comes in it
and that is where courage comes in it
and that is where courage comes in it takes a lot of courage to be an ally it
takes a lot of courage to be an ally it
takes a lot of courage to be an ally it takes a lot of courage to be willing to
takes a lot of courage to be willing to
takes a lot of courage to be willing to just sit and listen it takes a lot of
just sit and listen it takes a lot of
just sit and listen it takes a lot of courage to learn from the oppressed from
courage to learn from the oppressed from
courage to learn from the oppressed from the marginalize it takes a lot of
the marginalize it takes a lot of
the marginalize it takes a lot of courage to take a stand and fight for
courage to take a stand and fight for
courage to take a stand and fight for right
right
right at a time when maybe you’re alone maybe
at a time when maybe you’re alone maybe
at a time when maybe you’re alone maybe you’re the only person speaking this
you’re the only person speaking this
you’re the only person speaking this truth but it takes a lot of courage to
truth but it takes a lot of courage to
truth but it takes a lot of courage to do that but I think you need to do it
do that but I think you need to do it
do that but I think you need to do it and when we’re doing it we need to be
and when we’re doing it we need to be
and when we’re doing it we need to be able to work with allies we need to pull
able to work with allies we need to pull
able to work with allies we need to pull our allies in to help us in that fight
our allies in to help us in that fight
our allies in to help us in that fight for rights it takes courage to be a
for rights it takes courage to be a
for rights it takes courage to be a change leader if you think about it
change leader if you think about it
change leader if you think about it maybe those who of you who are here who
maybe those who of you who are here who
maybe those who of you who are here who already in leadership positions if you
already in leadership positions if you
already in leadership positions if you want to change things it takes courage
want to change things it takes courage
want to change things it takes courage to change things it takes so much
to change things it takes so much
to change things it takes so much courage so I want to invite you to find
courage so I want to invite you to find
courage so I want to invite you to find the places and the spaces and the people
the places and the spaces and the people
the places and the spaces and the people find the things that give you courage
find the things that give you courage
find the things that give you courage find the things that inspire you you
find the things that inspire you you
find the things that inspire you you know one of the things that really
know one of the things that really
know one of the things that really inspires me is actually my spirituality
inspires me is actually my spirituality
inspires me is actually my spirituality spirituality gives me courage
spirituality gives me courage
spirituality gives me courage faith over fear and actually I was in
faith over fear and actually I was in
faith over fear and actually I was in church this morning I attend East
church this morning I attend East
church this morning I attend East Preston United Baptist Church with
Preston United Baptist Church with
Preston United Baptist Church with Pastor laQuita Porter and she’s had a
Pastor laQuita Porter and she’s had a
Pastor laQuita Porter and she’s had a whole series since the beginning of
whole series since the beginning of
whole series since the beginning of January on faith and one of the key
January on faith and one of the key
January on faith and one of the key messages is faith over fear and that’s
messages is faith over fear and that’s
messages is faith over fear and that’s the message I carry with me every single
the message I carry with me every single
the message I carry with me every single day using that faith to overcome the
day using that faith to overcome the
day using that faith to overcome the fear that I feel to be a change leader I
fear that I feel to be a change leader I
fear that I feel to be a change leader I believe that we all need to lead the
believe that we all need to lead the
believe that we all need to lead the change that you want to see in this
change that you want to see in this
change that you want to see in this world you have to lead the change you
world you have to lead the change you
world you have to lead the change you want to see not wait for someone else to
want to see not wait for someone else to
want to see not wait for someone else to do it not wait for someone else to stand
do it not wait for someone else to stand
do it not wait for someone else to stand up and be the change leader you witness
up and be the change leader you witness
up and be the change leader you witness something you become aware of something
something you become aware of something
something you become aware of something you analyze something lead the change
you analyze something lead the change
you analyze something lead the change that you want to see and the final word
that you want to see and the final word
that you want to see and the final word on this things change when we do
on this things change when we do
on this things change when we do something when we don’t do anything we
something when we don’t do anything we
something when we don’t do anything we can get be guaranteed that things will
can get be guaranteed that things will
can get be guaranteed that things will continue as they are and if you’re
continue as they are and if you’re
continue as they are and if you’re unhappy
unhappy
unhappy with something that’s happening in your
with something that’s happening in your
with something that’s happening in your world remember that things will change
world remember that things will change
world remember that things will change when you do something about it thank you
so this past December I attended the
so this past December I attended the 30th anniversary of the North End Parent
30th anniversary of the North End Parent
30th anniversary of the North End Parent Resource Center and one of the people
Resource Center and one of the people
Resource Center and one of the people that was there was Canada’s
that was there was Canada’s
that was there was Canada’s parliamentary poet laureate dr. George
parliamentary poet laureate dr. George
parliamentary poet laureate dr. George Eliot Clarke and he was reading some of
Eliot Clarke and he was reading some of
Eliot Clarke and he was reading some of his poems and I said to him I said you
his poems and I said to him I said you
his poems and I said to him I said you know I’d like to ask you to write a poem
know I’d like to ask you to write a poem
know I’d like to ask you to write a poem about Viola Desmond that I want to read
about Viola Desmond that I want to read
about Viola Desmond that I want to read in the Senate and and he did and I read
in the Senate and and he did and I read
in the Senate and and he did and I read that poem on Wednesday International
that poem on Wednesday International
that poem on Wednesday International Women’s Day and I deliberately did not
Women’s Day and I deliberately did not
Women’s Day and I deliberately did not want to do it during Black History Month
want to do it during Black History Month
want to do it during Black History Month yes she’s an African Nova Scotian she’s
yes she’s an African Nova Scotian she’s
yes she’s an African Nova Scotian she’s also a woman so is that
also a woman so is that
also a woman so is that intersectionality piece and she is
intersectionality piece and she is
intersectionality piece and she is certainly one of the people that has and
certainly one of the people that has and
certainly one of the people that has and continues to inspire me so I’ve asked
continues to inspire me so I’ve asked
continues to inspire me so I’ve asked the organizers if I could read their
the organizers if I could read their
the organizers if I could read their poem and share that with you here today
poem and share that with you here today
poem and share that with you here today and the title on political economy or
and the title on political economy or
and the title on political economy or the ballot of Viola Desmond it’s
the ballot of Viola Desmond it’s
the ballot of Viola Desmond it’s impossible proof the $10 bill supporting
impossible proof the $10 bill supporting
impossible proof the $10 bill supporting her face demonstrates crime pays but
her face demonstrates crime pays but
her face demonstrates crime pays but first the heroine has to halt her she
first the heroine has to halt her she
first the heroine has to halt her she has to be jailed because she didn’t pay
has to be jailed because she didn’t pay
has to be jailed because she didn’t pay the penny tax required to sit where
the penny tax required to sit where
the penny tax required to sit where Caucasians folks sit in that segregated
Caucasians folks sit in that segregated
Caucasians folks sit in that segregated cinema blacks in 1946 were deemed unfit
cinema blacks in 1946 were deemed unfit
cinema blacks in 1946 were deemed unfit to share the same seating at the
to share the same seating at the
to share the same seating at the Roseland theater in New Glasgow and
Roseland theater in New Glasgow and
Roseland theater in New Glasgow and we’re told some rolls are White’s only
we’re told some rolls are White’s only
we’re told some rolls are White’s only who could withstand voila viola worth
who could withstand voila viola worth
who could withstand voila viola worth her weight in gold Desmond was a
her weight in gold Desmond was a
her weight in gold Desmond was a beautician but her change wasn’t
beautician but her change wasn’t
beautician but her change wasn’t cosmetic she wouldn’t give two cents to
cosmetic she wouldn’t give two cents to
cosmetic she wouldn’t give two cents to back racism that was strange it wasn’t
back racism that was strange it wasn’t
back racism that was strange it wasn’t how most coloreds had to live Sonos nova
how most coloreds had to live Sonos nova
how most coloreds had to live Sonos nova scotia swiftly saw her jailed tried her
scotia swiftly saw her jailed tried her
scotia swiftly saw her jailed tried her very guilt not for breaking racist rules
very guilt not for breaking racist rules
very guilt not for breaking racist rules but only because she failed to pay the
but only because she failed to pay the
but only because she failed to pay the province that one cent the province was
province that one cent the province was
province that one cent the province was taking to support whites only rules are
taking to support whites only rules are
taking to support whites only rules are plenty as if New Scotland was South
plenty as if New Scotland was South
plenty as if New Scotland was South Africa viola
Africa viola
Africa viola convicted was fined $20 that’s her
convicted was fined $20 that’s her
convicted was fined $20 that’s her beauty spot I tell you her two cents
beauty spot I tell you her two cents
beauty spot I tell you her two cents made a real difference may change begin
made a real difference may change begin
made a real difference may change begin to happen nine years before Rosa Parks
to happen nine years before Rosa Parks
to happen nine years before Rosa Parks sparked the civil rights movement
sparked the civil rights movement
sparked the civil rights movement stateside a century past civil war as an
stateside a century past civil war as an
stateside a century past civil war as an entrepreneur she sought value and profit
entrepreneur she sought value and profit
entrepreneur she sought value and profit in beauty sis Desmond did but she strove
in beauty sis Desmond did but she strove
in beauty sis Desmond did but she strove for justice because it’s true beauty
for justice because it’s true beauty
for justice because it’s true beauty turns ugly where justice is hid her bill
turns ugly where justice is hid her bill
turns ugly where justice is hid her bill is disappointingly smooth a one can’t
is disappointingly smooth a one can’t
is disappointingly smooth a one can’t feel her skirts scrapes and scabs that
feel her skirts scrapes and scabs that
feel her skirts scrapes and scabs that she suffered to bring about a better day
she suffered to bring about a better day
she suffered to bring about a better day whose dawn would usher in equality still
whose dawn would usher in equality still
whose dawn would usher in equality still she’s the first Canuck femme and person
she’s the first Canuck femme and person
she’s the first Canuck femme and person of color to see her face
of color to see her face
of color to see her face integrate Canadian currency partisan of
integrate Canadian currency partisan of
integrate Canadian currency partisan of justice ponder her interest rate from
justice ponder her interest rate from
justice ponder her interest rate from two cents to ten dollars an increase of
two cents to ten dollars an increase of
two cents to ten dollars an increase of fifty thousand percent also note her
fifty thousand percent also note her
fifty thousand percent also note her royal pardon miracles don’t cease Royal
royal pardon miracles don’t cease Royal
royal pardon miracles don’t cease Royal Mint is viola Desmond now find the
Mint is viola Desmond now find the
Mint is viola Desmond now find the courage to be an ally in the fight for
courage to be an ally in the fight for
courage to be an ally in the fight for rights in this age of uncertainty thank
rights in this age of uncertainty thank
rights in this age of uncertainty thank you
you
you you
you
you [Applause]
”
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