Reply to SWS - You are only invited if you’re Black

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Reply to "SWS - You are only invited if you’re Black"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is a reflection of how white people and black people see "inclusion" differently. I don't actually know what the answer is, but I know enough from black friends and colleagues why that kind of event and phrasing is more meaningful in terms of making them feel included in a space that has historically been more white. Affinity groups and events are an important form of solidarity for folks who might otherwise feel out of place. It gives them opportunities to make connections with people from similar backgrounds, which can make it easier to navigate the community.

However, as a white person, I totally get why that's off-putting and I think my gut reaction to receiving would also be to feel excluded in a way that I would prefer not to associate with my child's school, specifically. I also suspect, based on my own experience at a different school post-Covid, that there are many white members of the community who may feel alienated and isolated for reasons other than race, and who crave opportunities to connect with other members of the community, but those opportunities have been few and far between in recent years. So part of my feeling may simply be jealousy because I could also use an affinity group like this, but there isn't one for "Families Experiencing Critical Mental Health Issues" or "Families With Poor Support Networks Outside the School Setting." And I'm too embarrassed to start one.
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I'm a white parent of kids at SWS and couldn't give two hoots about this email beyond that I'm happy that the school is responding to known/voiced concerns from Black families over the years. [/quote]

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