I appreciate those Brothers who have provided feedback on reasons not
to attend the ‘White Privilege’ ZOOM gatherings.
The perspectives shared by Brothers Jim Mann, Grant LeDrew, Rudi Grab
and Michael Dunne may well echo the thoughts of many more. Critical
dialogue is so important to any narrative. Critical dialogue involves
‘taking a pause’ to listen to other's stories, to reflect, to consider
and perhaps reconsider. Suzanne assigned me a reading from the
March-April 2021 Harvard Business Review that recounts Steve Jobs team
"pushing him to rethink his positions. If Jobs hadn't surrounded
himself with people who knew how to change his mind, he might not have
changed the world." Oh my, what would it be like not having our
IPhone?:)
Yes, I am part of a race, the white race. My people emigrated to
Canada for a better life, they worked hard on farms and railways to
make room for my generation to pursue a post secondary education. To
them I am indebted beyond any and all words. I am humbled by the their
self giving and generosity.
Racism is a loaded word. To many of us growing up through the Civil
Rights era, racism was something negative, something that existed
south of the border --- a way in which people were denied equality
because of systemic discrimination existing in government, community,
workplace, and schools.
All of us have had new experiences since our graduation from the UofA.
We have forged careers in the Arts, Sciences, Commerce, Education, Law
and Medicine. I have been blessed with a great education, career and
wealth as a result. In reflection over these many years since
graduation a deeper appreciation came upon me as I worked for First
Nations as a lawyer and later lived beside First Nations as a
Minister. My narrative changed as I came to understand more and I
continue to acknowledge having much more to understand.
I have found a better way to understand my identity as a white person
vis-à-vis people of colour in this definition from Robin Diangelo’s
book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About
Racism.
…White privilege, a sociological concept referring to advantages that
are taken for granted by whites and cannot be similarly enjoyed by
people of color in the same context (government, community, workplace,
schools, etc).
Likely these words will stir further conversation. Perhaps interactive
dialogue can benefit us all.
YITBOS
Frank Lewis
