8 Advisory D.E.I. by Andrea Khambalia

"These are all things that as individuals when you do experience racism, you start to question."

"Now, you're young, this is the time for you to question these systems. These are systems that should not be in place you're in your thirties or forties and if they are, as humanity, we have truly, honestly failed."

"Because we can't continue as a society like this, right?"

"I truly, honestly believe in the human race, the human race, not the division into a white, black, yellow, no. They are there and they exist and I will not deny that."

"But I truly, honestly believe that we should all see each other as equals and until we do, these systems of inequality, these systems of racism will continue to affect us on a daily basis."

"If you wish to see meaningful change then we, we, we must all be proactive."

"Keeping silent keeps the status quo and not recognizing that these systems of detrimental to our society makes us complicit in them. "

"First piece of advice...

...BE CONSCIOUS
take a look at the world around you and reflect on how the systems have been built, how do they affect you as an individual.

Have they affected you in a positive or in a negative manner.

Have you been listened to?"

Are you ignored?

Do you speak up for others?

BE CONSCIOUS, BE CONSCIOUS."

"The next thing you need to think about it...

...ACKNOWLEDGE THAT RACISM HAS SHAPED OUR SOCIETIES AND OURSELVES WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT."

"If we internalize some of these harmful messages, what happens to us?

Does it shape our thinking?

Does it change our actions? Whether consciously or unconsciously."

"We cannot ignore the fact that this is an uncomfortable system."

"And we are going to be uncomfortable with it. And I think unless you are uncomfortable with it, you are not experiencing it. Or, you are not interacting with it in a way that you can interact with it."

"Educate yourselves. Do some reading. Try to read authors from different socio-economic backgrounds, cultural backgrounds. It gives you an opportunity to be able to change your view. And if we can, we can support each other."

"Now, how we move with this going forward? I really, honestly do not know. I think that's a question that your generation has to answer?"

"Unfortunately, in a way, my generation has failed your generation because we didn't challenge it as much as we should have. But guess what? I'm challenging you now. More so than I ever did."

"What side of the fence do you sit on? Do you want equality for every one? You want a world where we learn to respect men, women, children regardless of the colour of their skin, regardless of the choice of religion."

"I don't know. These are only questions that you can ponder, you can think about. Then as a group, you have to find solutions."

"It's hard for me to capture everything that I can and my experiences with racism but if you want to find out more or you want to have a discussion, my door is always open. Look me up...send me an email, or come by my classroom or stop me in the hallway to have a quick chat. I'm always open to discussion. Because discussion has got me to the point I am, with who I am and understanding what I am."

"This crusade is more pronounced this year than it ever has been."

"This is not the end of the discussion. The discussion has to continue. That's the only way we can gain an upper hand on racism."

"Good luck with your studies. Good luck with your research. Share your research. That's one way of spreading good information. Share your research."

"And don't be shy to speak. We're all going to make mistakes because it is an uncomfortable topic."

"But I do know that we have the tools and we have the heart to be able to come together and actually have constructive conversations that help us move forward as a society. And I think only then can we move forward and heal."