I have some thoughts about this quote: I’ll start by saying that Jon Cooper’s heart is in the right place with this comment, and that I’ve always liked and respected him. BUT. But but but this statement fundamentally oversimplifies what is happening and what needs to happen 1/? https://twitter.com/thefourthperiod/status/1299401082867716098">https://twitter.com/thefourth...

Next week I turn 38. I was born in Ottawa, the child of Egyptian immigrants, and this same idea of ‘we just have to teach our children together along and over time, things will improve’ was the prevailing wisdom of my childhood years. Suffice It to say 2/?

This has not been the case. The mentality that changing hearts and minds is enoughfails to acknowledge the SYSTEMS of racism and oppression that are in place, keeping Black and Indigenous people marginalized, providing insufficient resources, limiting opportunities, etc 3/?

Kids can grow up with friends if all colours and cultures, be perfectly nice ppl, all get along, and still perpetuate this system because it’s the status quo. If you have moldinrhe walls, painting the house with a new coat of paint won’t fix it 4/?

This is what we all need to understand. Yes, teach your kids that everyone deserves a fair shake, that’s a start, that’s the minimum, but also teach them that right now that’s NOT happening. The system isn’t neutral. 5/?

If you haven’t seen any racism, consider the fact that perhaps you haven’t seen it simply because you are not the target, not because it doesn’t exist. We have to rip out rthr house’s walls. We have to eradicate the mild 6/6

Ugh - eradicate the mold not mild. Damn you autocorrect!!