Why hugging out racism in education just won't cut it

We spend an awful lot of time responding to racism with lines like "racism isn't welcome here" but less time asking ourselves what resources are needed to challenge racism in our schools and elsewhere. With growing examples of a resurgence of overt racism in schools, Laura Mae Lindo highlights the actions that we really need to take to challenge racism. With black students continually hearing use of the N-word and Muslim students being labelled as terrorists, it’s time to talk about the actions that racialized students and educators need to see so that they know that systemic racism is being tackled in our educational systems and beyond. Laura Mae Lindo, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener Centre, is a respected activist and educator who holds both a Masters and PhD in Education. Her commitment to building inclusive communities both within and outside of educational environments is grounded in her knowledge of how to put anti-oppression theories into practice. Laura Mae is a knowledgeable advocate for the rights of women and girls, a respected ally to marginalized community members, and, most importantly, a courageous public speaker on issues often left unaddressed in the mainstream. Laura Mae is the Official Opposition Critic for Anti-Racism, and Citizenship and Immigration. The Leader of the Official Opposition recently appointed her as Chair of Official Opposition’s first Black Caucus, to collaborate with Black communities and allies to address systemic anti-Black racism in Ontario