“When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”

— John Lewis

FRANKIE: Bystander Intervention for Social Change (look at original proposal, now we have awareness, and now these are the skills you can apply to advance change)

Providing the tools needed to an effective ally/accomplice in addressing anti-Black racism, this unit focuses on capacity building.

We will draw on the context provided from the previous three units, and dig into the social psychology of bystander behaviour and the promise of evidence-based bystander intervention programs to disrupt and diminish the impacts of anti-Black racism. This unit will focus on how to be an effective bystander from the perspective of the target as well as society at large. The unit also explores the importance of positive racial identity and of a ‘healing centered approach’ to fostering mental, spiritual, and physical well-being among Black people in Canada.

“We must change the university culture and we must hold one another accountable in order to effect change for a more equitable, inclusive and justice demanding campus. The time is now to build, and in some cases re-build a culture of trust, honour, respect, and equality. This is the behavioural standard that we must set for our campus and uphold without compromise.” (p. 6, Anti-Black Racism Task Force Report)

If you are interested in reading more about the University of Windsor’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force, you can find the summary and the full report at the links below.

Anti-Black Racism Task Force. (2021).  Anti-Black racism task force report. University of Windsor.

• Recommendations and Executive Summary (8 pages)
• Full Report of the Anti-Black Racism Task Force (54 pages)

Self-Care Reminder!

And Still I Rise – poem by Maya Angelou