there are some troubling things with the left front: namely, too many white people running. Even worse is that that some of them havent really been involved in anything - from what I can tell. You should run. Im hearing they would step down if there are others to take the place that should have been theres from the start. I know Left Front agrees that I should speak with them and propose to them that I run on their slate, though they did not specifically write to me. I am not in a place of knowing each of their relationship to whiteness, settler consciousness and cis-hetero-patriarchy to begin to have an analysis of the group. I am friends with some members, including their two proposed Co-Chairs. DTES organizing is not just anti-gentrification struggle because the housing crisis and policing crisis are not the only modern form of violence. Those two crises are systemic to structural oppressions that I see play out in A LOT of grassroots organizing. I dont want to be propped up by well-meaning young white activists who will not support me methodically and intentionally in inspiring me to be brave in consultation with communities, especially DIVERSE racialized communities that make up the majority of DTES residents. They cant support me even if they want to because I dont know where the group is in understanding inter-European relations, European both as one colonial people and as heterogeneous peoples, gender binary of white masculinity and femininity, etc. Its a real shame when white people dont find the time to understand the context of interracial relations as historically and continually constituted by colonial encounters. I look at more than just the affirmative action ratios I am presented. I can tell when the racialized caucus spots are filled by people who are not supported by a wide community of people to become accountable and to learn how to admit fault and participate in restorative practices when racialized people tokenize others. Same with other equity spots. If this writing is too abstract for you, there are some wise people who identify with both their European ancestry and non-European ancestry you may have the good fortune of meeting and learning from if you meet them half-way.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 07:07:38 +0000
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