Page 15 - Professional Advisory on Anti-Black Racism

Colonialism/decolonization: the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically – the notion of domination over a margin- alized community. Decolonization involves efforts to interrupt and dismantle colonial power structures.
Cultural competence: an ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures, particularly in human resources, non-profit organizations, and government agencies whose employees work with persons from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds. Cultural competence has four components:
1. Awareness of one’s own cultural worldview;
2. Attitude towards cultural differences;
3. Knowledge of different cultural
practices and worldviews;
4. Cross-cultural skills (developing cultural
competence results in an ability to under- stand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures).
Decolonizing pedagogy: making space for learners to co-create the content of the curriculum in ways that respect diversity and embrace inclusion, while actively advocating for equity of outcomes for each student.
Discrimination: treating someone unfairly by either imposing a burden on them, or denying them a privilege, benefit or oppor- tunity enjoyed by others, because of their race, citizenship, family status, disability, sex or other personal characteristics (note: this is not a legal definition).
Diversity: the presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within an individual, group or organization. Diversity includes such factors as age, sex, race, ethnicity, physical and intellectual ability, religion, sexual orientation, educational background and expertise.
Equity: fairness, impartiality, even-hand- edness. A distinct process of recognizing differences within groups of individuals and using this understanding to achieve substantive equality in all aspects of a person’s life.
Inclusion: appreciating and using our unique differences – strengths, talents, weaknesses and frailties – in a way that shows respect for the individual and ultimately creates a dynamic multi-dimensional organization.
Inclusive education: education that is based on the principles of acceptance and inclusion of all students. Students see themselves reflected in their curriculum, their physical surroundings, and the broader environment, in which diversity is honoured and all individuals are respected.
Individual racism: individual racism is structured by an ideology (set of ideas, values and beliefs) that frames one’s negative attitudes towards others; and is reflected in the willful, conscious/ unconscious, direct/indirect, or inten- tional/unintentional words or actions of individuals.
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY ON ANTI-BLACK RACISM 13