Recomended reading / viewing relevant to the killing of George Floyd
Below are some suggestions to better understand issues around racism, colonialism, intersectionality, that are raised by the killing of George Loyd. There are links to two excellent collections of resources (Robin DiAngelo's and 38 Degrees), and also some individual suggestions.
These felt very relevant to the context for the killing of George Floyd, and I thought may be useful to share. The comments about the articles and books are mine.
Whilst the focus is on black people's experience, I also suggest areas of shared experience and intersectionality.
If you have comments or other suggestions, please let me know.
These felt very relevant to the context for the killing of George Floyd, and I thought may be useful to share. The comments about the articles and books are mine.
Whilst the focus is on black people's experience, I also suggest areas of shared experience and intersectionality.
If you have comments or other suggestions, please let me know.
38 Degrees collection of anti-racism resources
38 Degrees have made a collection of anti-racism resources available, these include: Books, Articles, Podcasts, Courses, UK & US Organisations to join & support, resources to look after yourself. These include most of the suggestions below, and a many more. home.38degrees.org.uk/2020/06/04/a-collection-of-anti-racism-resources/
In 1919, the state failed to protect black Americans. A century later, it's still failing. Carol Anderson (Guardian article)
An article looking at the history of police and vigilante killings of black people in America, the lack of investigation and actions that often follows killings like this, and the current political context. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2020/jun/02/in-1919-the-state-failed-to-protect-black-americans-a-century-later-its-still-failing
'We have to stop thinking about racism as someone who says the N-word', Robin DiAngelo. (Guardian article, videos, and other resources)
A recommended article exploring white people's complicit in society’s institutional racism, how (I'll use the word 'we' as I'm white) we can look away, feel and be defensive, rather than looking at and working to change the systems we are a part of and benefit from that support racism. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/16/white-fragility-racism-interview-robin-diangelo?
You can find her videos (most subtitled) here: robindiangelo.com/media/
Robin DiAngelo also has a list of resources on her website, including tools, information for white parents, and a readers guide for her book "White Fragility", etc. Well worth a look. robindiangelo.com/resources/
You can find her videos (most subtitled) here: robindiangelo.com/media/
Robin DiAngelo also has a list of resources on her website, including tools, information for white parents, and a readers guide for her book "White Fragility", etc. Well worth a look. robindiangelo.com/resources/
Intent vs. Impact: Why Your Intentions Don’t Really Matter. Jamie Utt (Article)
A really excellent and very short article that looks at Intent v Impact, Identity Privilege and Intent, and “What they did vs What they are”. The author then suggests what we can do when we screw up, as we all do. I use the phrase “It doesn’t matter” to myself whenever needed. https://everydayfeminism.com/2013/07/intentions-dont-really-matter/
White Privilege, Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. Peggy McIntosh (Article)
An excellent and very readable article that explores and illustrates privilege as experienced by white people. The section. The “Daily effects of white privilege” is simply brilliant, and illustrates privilege in a way that no definition can. When reading these, try framing the ‘realisations’ in terms of deafness, disability, gender, sexuality etc. https://www.nationalseedproject.org/Key-SEED-Texts/white-privilege-unpacking-the-invisible-knapsack
The urgency of intersectionality. Kimberlé Crenshaw (Video with subtitles - 19 minutes)
A powerful illustration of intersectionality, and why it’s so important. Kimberlé originated the concept, so you’re hearing it from her first hand. It has an American audience in mind, but this doesn’t distract from the issues raised. She largely talks about the intersection of black and female. When she’s doing this, you can also think about other intersections; deaf and black, deaf and female, etc.
Trigger warning: If you would find the images at the end of violence towards black women too distressing, you can stop the video at the point they say they will show these images. https://youtu.be/akOe5-UsQ2o
Trigger warning: If you would find the images at the end of violence towards black women too distressing, you can stop the video at the point they say they will show these images. https://youtu.be/akOe5-UsQ2o
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire, Akala. (Book)
An absolutely brilliant exploration of race and class in and related to the UK, combining a balanced history account (that was a revelation in itself), with research evidence, and strongly relevant personal accounts of the impact of unconscious (and conscious) bias on race, class, and where the two intersect. Really good at challenging what feels normal, e.g. discussions of “black on black” violence in inner cities. Contains swearing, and searing honesty. https://www.waterstones.com/book/natives/akala/9781473661233
Why I no longer talk to white people about race, Reni Eddo-Lodge. (Book)
An incredibly powerful and readable book. Explores racism, sexism, feminism, class, structural bias, privilege, etc. from a personal experiential perspective, with some research cited. Explains key concepts really clearly. Really helped me understand the experience and consequence of not having privilege. https://www.waterstones.com/book/why-im-no-longer-talking-to-white-people-about-race/reni-eddo-lodge/9781408870587
Introduction to Unconscious Bias - a workshop for Sign Language Interpreters & Translators
Please note that due to COVID-19 and lockdown Josef and I have taken the decision to put this workshop on hold until 2021.
Why explore Unconscious Bias?
Unconscious Bias (UB) is increasingly in the news, as an explanation for people’s discriminatory behaviour and as a way of addressing such behaviour, e.g. through UB training.
Interpreters have said that training would be useful to help understand more about UB, and so this is a workshop to address that.
Discussion of UB then naturally leads us into an exploration of how we evaluate some of the norms that contextualise and influence the way we think about ourselves and others, what we see, and so how we work.
What will we cover?
In this very interactive workshop, where all of our thinking on and experience of these issues will be useful, we explore three main areas:
(1) Unconscious Bias (UB): What is Unconscious Bias, the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and UB in the real world.
(2) Unconscious Bias and the Interpreter / Translator: How does UB impact on interpreters / translators?
(3) Unconscious Bias and interpreting / translation: The challenge for interpreters and translators and strategies to address UB.
During the morning, Unconscious Bias and the IAT will be explored, then in the afternoon this thinking will be applied to our profession and ourselves, using examples to focus discussions. The day will conclude by looking at what we can do and next steps.
Who are we?
Josef Baines and Darren Townsend-Handscomb will be delivering the taught sections, and facilitating the discussions.
As this workshop will focus on bias and discrimination, we want you to note before you book to attend, that whilst there are many facets to our identities, both Josef and Darren are white, middle aged (Darren at least), middle class, men. If this is a barrier to your participation in this workshop, then let us know, and we can let you know if the workshop is being run again in future with different facilitators.
Please note that the workshop will be delivered mainly in BSL (Josef is a deaf BSL user). If this is a barrier to your participation, please let us know.
Who is the workshop for?
The workshop is aimed at trainee and registered interpreters and translators, deaf and hearing.
Before and after the workshop:
This workshop is introductory, and we cover a lot of different concepts and ideas. To get the most of this opportunity, before the workshop you’ll need to do the Implicit Association Test (IAT) online (information will be emailed once you’re booked on a workshop).
And then after the workshop you can explore these ideas further through reading (we’ll send you a suggested reading list) and activities that you can do yourself or with peers (we’ll send suggestions).
Other information:
The day runs 9:00 arrival for 9:30-5:00.
We work to ensure that this is a safe space in which to think. This means that questions and discussion will be encouraged, but challenging people’s lived experience will not. We will follow Chatham House rules for confidentiality.
We are likely to be talking about issues that carry a lot of emotional weight. The workshop organisers will work to ensure that the day is productive and supportive; however we will not be able to offer support outside of the workshop on issues that might arise.
If you are interested in attending, organising this workshop in your area, or have any questions, please contact me.
Unconscious Bias (UB) is increasingly in the news, as an explanation for people’s discriminatory behaviour and as a way of addressing such behaviour, e.g. through UB training.
Interpreters have said that training would be useful to help understand more about UB, and so this is a workshop to address that.
Discussion of UB then naturally leads us into an exploration of how we evaluate some of the norms that contextualise and influence the way we think about ourselves and others, what we see, and so how we work.
What will we cover?
In this very interactive workshop, where all of our thinking on and experience of these issues will be useful, we explore three main areas:
(1) Unconscious Bias (UB): What is Unconscious Bias, the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and UB in the real world.
(2) Unconscious Bias and the Interpreter / Translator: How does UB impact on interpreters / translators?
(3) Unconscious Bias and interpreting / translation: The challenge for interpreters and translators and strategies to address UB.
During the morning, Unconscious Bias and the IAT will be explored, then in the afternoon this thinking will be applied to our profession and ourselves, using examples to focus discussions. The day will conclude by looking at what we can do and next steps.
Who are we?
Josef Baines and Darren Townsend-Handscomb will be delivering the taught sections, and facilitating the discussions.
As this workshop will focus on bias and discrimination, we want you to note before you book to attend, that whilst there are many facets to our identities, both Josef and Darren are white, middle aged (Darren at least), middle class, men. If this is a barrier to your participation in this workshop, then let us know, and we can let you know if the workshop is being run again in future with different facilitators.
Please note that the workshop will be delivered mainly in BSL (Josef is a deaf BSL user). If this is a barrier to your participation, please let us know.
Who is the workshop for?
The workshop is aimed at trainee and registered interpreters and translators, deaf and hearing.
Before and after the workshop:
This workshop is introductory, and we cover a lot of different concepts and ideas. To get the most of this opportunity, before the workshop you’ll need to do the Implicit Association Test (IAT) online (information will be emailed once you’re booked on a workshop).
And then after the workshop you can explore these ideas further through reading (we’ll send you a suggested reading list) and activities that you can do yourself or with peers (we’ll send suggestions).
Other information:
The day runs 9:00 arrival for 9:30-5:00.
We work to ensure that this is a safe space in which to think. This means that questions and discussion will be encouraged, but challenging people’s lived experience will not. We will follow Chatham House rules for confidentiality.
We are likely to be talking about issues that carry a lot of emotional weight. The workshop organisers will work to ensure that the day is productive and supportive; however we will not be able to offer support outside of the workshop on issues that might arise.
If you are interested in attending, organising this workshop in your area, or have any questions, please contact me.