Rehabilitation Therapy Student Society (RTS) Statement on Anti-Racism

I am sure many of you have witnessed the movement sparked by the senseless and brutal killing of George Floyd and the protests around the world calling for justice. It has been long overdue for everyone to band together to change the status quo. Reflecting on and acknowledging our biases and learning how to challenge racism is essential to progress. We must strive to care for one another and have the courage and respect to fight against racism. 
 We can begin to accomplish this by uniting in protest, amplifying Black voices and experiences, and supporting organizations that are fighting for justice. Racial discrimination will not be tolerated and it is imperative that we speak and act against it. Every individual deserves the opportunity to live safely without fear of injustice, regardless of the colour of their skin.
 We, the RTS, support the Queen’s and Kingston communities in protesting against the injustice faced by the Black community. As a council, we are going to listen, learn, and commit to making a change. As future health care professionals we will stand together to challenge racism within the health care system. In the coming days and weeks, we will be transparent and update everyone regarding how we are taking action to fight against racism. 
 There are many different ways you can show your support. Please take the time to research organizations that are involved in anti-racism work, and how you can start challenging the part you play in systemic racism and oppression of Black people. Below we have listed several key resources that will assist you in further educating yourself to help make a change.
There are many different ways you can show your support. Please take the time to research organizations that are involved in anti-racism work, and how you can start challenging the part you play in systemic racism and oppression of Black people. Below we have listed several key resources that will assist you in further educating yourself to help make a change.

Resources 

Queens University Resources
Books
  • Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet Washington
  • The Power to Heal: Civil Rights, Medicare, and the struggle to transform America's Healthcare system by David Barton Smith
  • Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts
  • Why are the Black Kids Sitting Together In the Cafeteria: and other conversations about race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
  • Black Man in a White Coat by Damon Tweedy, M.D.​
  • Just Medicine: A Cure for Racial Inequality In American Health Care by Dayna Bowen Matthew
  • Unmasking Racism in Health Care: Alive and Well (The Greatest Barrier to Reform) by Marie Edwige Seneque
  • The Health Gap by Michale Marmot
  • Black & Blue by John Hoberman
Ted Talks
TV Shows/Movies/Videos
Petitions
List of different petitions from BLM Toronto: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/?fbclid=IwAR38ghfZ10yq-QODIbo_9vW1dIIMSISYNJl90_3UJhZl80cmJFZo5TjI9rc#petitions
Research Articles
  • Nixon SA. The coin model of privilege and critical allyship: implications for health. BMC Public Health. 2019 Dec;19(1):1-3. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12889-019-7884-9 
  • The cost of racism for people of color: Contextualizing experiences of discrimination, American Psychological Association
  • Perception of Racial discrimination and psychopathy across three US ethnic minority groups, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority
  • Race and Trust in the Healthcare System, Public Health Reports
Online Workshops
  • Call It Out by the Ontario Human Rights Commission: A 30-minute interactive eCourse that offers a foundation for learning about race, racial discrimination and human rights protections under Ontario's Human Rights Code. The course offers a historical overview of racism and racial discrimination, explains what “race,” “racism” and “racial discrimination” mean, and provides approaches to preventing and addressing racial discrimination.
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/learning/elearning/call-it-out
  • ​​Intercultural Awareness Certificate offered at Queen’s. A five-part series of workshops which will help them to recognize that gaining intercultural awareness requires a commitment to life-long learning. ** note these have been postponed until further notice**
https://quic.queensu.ca/get-involved/intercultural-training/#schedule
Podcasts
  • Colour code. (Globe and Mail 2016): Welcome to the Globe and Mail’s new podcast series about race in Canada. For hosts Denise Balkissoon and Hannah Sung, it’s first things first: things first: What is race? And why do we need this conversation right now? (on Spotify and Apple podcasts)
  • Black Tea (Frequency 2018): The diversity that makes Canada special isn’t often reflected in the stories we hear and the discussions we have. Black Tea will change that. Writers Andray Domise and Melayna Williams are here to have the tough but important conversations right out in the open, and have some laughs while doing it. Join them each week for insightful and uncomfortable discussions; about issues that matter to Canada’s Black communities. https://frequencypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/black-tea/​
  • Race, Health, Happiness: Navigating professional life as a "racialized" person can be exhausting. Join Dr. O, a Public Health Physician Specialist in Toronto, as she interviews guests who are overcoming the obstacles of overt and institutionalized racism to achieve their professional goals while creating healthy and fulfilling lives. If you'd like to learn about thriving in the face of adversity while staying well, this is the podcast for you. http://racehealthhappiness.buzzsprout.com
  • Into the Fold: The Past Does Matter Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome https://hogg.utexas.edu/podcast-the-past-does-matter
Places to Donate ​***NOTE: Watch WITH ads, do not skip