What is an Ally?
“Being an ally is not about paving the way, rather it is about walking the walk with us.”
Allies play a critical role in increasing the Parents of Black Children’s representation by offering support and creating a more inclusive environment for the Black community. It involves working in solidarity and partnership with our Black parents and children to help take down the systems that challenge our basic rights, equal access, and ability to thrive in our society.
Allyship can be a small action, and one does not need to make a grand gesture to be considered an ally. Anyone who can reflect and leverage his or her place of privilege (including White parents with Black and biracial children) also can affect massive change.
We welcome those who adopt this definition and are able to approach difficult dialogue despite our differences in lived experiences. What has become an essential strength in our alliances is the ability to work towards the common goal of dismantling anti-Black racism in Black communities.
Help Us Dismantle Anti-Black Racism in Education
Are you wondering how you can work alongside Parents of Black Children? Here are 4 steps that you can take right now:
Step 1: Subscribe to Our Newsletter & Follow Us on Social Media
To stay up to date on how you can best support us, join our newsletter and follow us on social media.
Step 2: Send a Letter to Minister Lecce
Support our 10 demands for reforming the education system.
From updating the curriculum to reflect Black history to ensuring that racist teachers are held accountable, we know there is a lot of work to do to create systemic change.
Stand in solidarity with us by sending an email to Minister of Education Stephen Lecce with our list of demands.
Step 3: Donate Today
From our on-going workshops and programs to our full-time Systems Navigators, there is a lot of work that goes into the advocacy we do.
We need your donations to continue the work we do and expand our reach to all Black students across Ontario.
Click here to donate to Parents of Black Children
You MUST designate your support goes to Parents of Black Children by selecting “Support Parents of Black Children’s United Parents program” in the drop-down menu during the donation process.
Step 4: Stay Engaged
The work never ends. As an ally, it is about staying engaged and staying activated.
If you’re a teacher, don’t let racism slide. Call your colleagues out.
If you’re a white parent, ask your child’s teacher what they are doing to ensure Black people are represented in their curriculum.
Email your government representatives. Attend school board trustee meetings and voice your thoughts and feelings. Silence is complicity, and will not move us towards the change that is needed.