a basic white bitch on black lives matter
My thoughts lately I’m sure like many others have been consumed by the fight for equality in North America the struggle that our minority population faces in Canada has been a concern and continues to grow.
One of the problems I think we all face in these times is the hopelessness we can feel as an individual ,to make any amount of change to beat back the raging fire of racism. I have asked myself what could I one person possibly do I thought to myself
People in our country are being dehumanized and treated unfairly every day when I thought to myself it could possibly be as bad in Canada as it is in the states. It didn’t take me long to realize that it is indeed a dire situation here as well.
Things like the fact that Black and Indigenous peoples in Canada are 7, to 8 times more likely to be victims of violent crime.
Black youth especially males report being stopped regularly or searched by police at approximately double the rate for white youth, and analysis of 10,000 arrests in Toronto showed that blacks were 50% more likely to be taken to a police station for processing after an arrest, and 100% more likely to be held overnight than whites were. Even taking into account criminal history and age. When given bail, they had more conditions imposed on that bail.
Speaking to how minorities are overrepresented in our criminal justice system,
Black peoples are overrepresented in federal prisons by more than 300% versus the population well Indigenous peoples are over represented by nearly 500%. The same disparities exist in provincial jails in Nova Scotia where black peoples are 2% of the population but 14% of the jail population stop in Manitoba indigenous peoples are 16% of the population but 70% of the jail population in Alberta the numbers of indigenous peoples are 6% versus 39% of the jail population. With numbers like these I don’t think we can say we have a justice system. These imbalances are getting worse not better.
So what can we do?
I frequently make myself available as a community support at the local youth centre offering haircuts free of charge just hanging out with the kids, I’ve organized an event where they feel comfortable to air their grievances and had an opportunity to talk to people (specifically barbers )who have been through the same adversity’s that they are currently facing.
It has been a goal of mine to expand this project. And recent events have me asking myself why I haven’t been working on this harder. While I can’t excuse my apathetic past ,the only thing I can do is take action now . So I have decided to make my barber shop available for at risk youth in our communities to serve community hours and my hope is to find people who are open to the idea of sharing their spaces in a similar way.
There’s not much required here; it’s similar to having a co-op student in your space. The difference is, this young human would be at risk of unjust incarceration. Instead they’ll have an opportunity to be in a safe space to grow and explore personal development
This is a small thing that one person can do and I’m hoping that many other barbers will join me. There will be a link in the description to fill out a form of your email and name if you are open to opening your space as a placement program for these at-risk youth.
We’re going to need a lot of barbers and together I think we can make a really big impact. We can’t forget that although it is one individual the impact that one individual could have and then what positive impact that that individual can have on the rest of society is immeasurable.
The other reason we’re going to need a lot of barbers and salon owners across the country is that many of these at risk youth are serving the community hours away from their homes away from their families and when those hours are done if they wish to continue an apprenticeship they’re going to need a barber in a different province possibly a different city to make their space available, and help continue their education.
Barbershops have often been a space where we can feel comfortable to challenge our perceptions and ideas about the world that is why they will be a great space for disadvantaged youth in our communities to learn new ideas, meet tons of new people, and develop a network of support whereas the alternative while incarcerated is developing a network of work to further criminality.
We can make a difference and small actions add up. By taking this one small step I have alleviated much of my anxiety over the feeling of dread of not being able to make a difference. So please if you think this is a good idea, do one more small thing, click the link below and add your name and email to the list of people willing to make their spaces available to at risk youth in our communities so that we can provide more equal opportunity to everyone in our nation. Or share this with other barbers and salon owners that you think would like to change the world
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
The fact is we all do change the world whether we do something or not. It has an impact either way. So let’s do this together. barbers for change.
