{"id":230,"date":"2021-09-07T21:52:06","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T01:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/intheirmoccasins\/?post_type=chapter&p=230"},"modified":"2022-02-28T14:10:50","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T19:10:50","slug":"step-into-my-life","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/intheirmoccasins\/chapter\/step-into-my-life\/","title":{"raw":"Intermission and Meditation: Step Into My Life","rendered":"Intermission and Meditation: Step Into My Life"},"content":{"raw":" \r\n

Step into my life but leave your privilege behind.<\/h3>\r\n

There is no space for me unless you create it.<\/h3>\r\n

I am human like everyone in my classroom,<\/h3>\r\n

but privilege and oppression separate me, not just my skin tone.<\/h3>\r\n

This system was created to work against me.<\/h3>\r\n

This classroom is not a community.<\/h3>\r\n

Your idea of time does not align with my teachings.<\/h3>\r\n

Just for a second,<\/h3>\r\n

step into my life, but leave your privilege behind.<\/h3>\r\n

Imagine a room full of people, and you were the only white person.<\/h3>\r\n

Would you feel afraid?<\/h3>\r\n

What if the teacher asked what colonization was?<\/h3>\r\n

Would you speak up to explain or sit back in shame?<\/h3>\r\n

When my history is the topic, and you get it all wrong,<\/h3>\r\n

Do you offer an empty apology and stare blankly at me?<\/h3>\r\n

Do you ask me to explain my history?<\/h3>\r\n

Do you realize what this does to me?<\/h3>\r\n

You use your power to turn it around and make me feel obligated to tell you,<\/h3>\r\n

It's okay.<\/h3>\r\n

It's okay, as I fight internal battles of shame.<\/h3>\r\n

Shame that was never mine to carry.<\/h3>\r\n

It's okay, as I ignore that my life is an uphill healing journey.<\/h3>\r\n

But in a split second,<\/h3>\r\n

I freeze to ensure that you did not offend my community or me.<\/h3>\r\n

Then, I am expected to teach a history I\u2019m still learning.<\/h3>\r\n

Because again,<\/h3>\r\n

my skin tone speaks louder than my capacity to explain,<\/h3>\r\n

and you need me to tell you,<\/h3>\r\n

It's okay.<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n

Breathe<\/h3>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
[h5p id=\"23\"]<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"14\"]<\/span>\r\n\r\n ","rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Step into my life but leave your privilege behind.<\/h3>\n

There is no space for me unless you create it.<\/h3>\n

I am human like everyone in my classroom,<\/h3>\n

but privilege and oppression separate me, not just my skin tone.<\/h3>\n

This system was created to work against me.<\/h3>\n

This classroom is not a community.<\/h3>\n

Your idea of time does not align with my teachings.<\/h3>\n

Just for a second,<\/h3>\n

step into my life, but leave your privilege behind.<\/h3>\n

Imagine a room full of people, and you were the only white person.<\/h3>\n

Would you feel afraid?<\/h3>\n

What if the teacher asked what colonization was?<\/h3>\n

Would you speak up to explain or sit back in shame?<\/h3>\n

When my history is the topic, and you get it all wrong,<\/h3>\n

Do you offer an empty apology and stare blankly at me?<\/h3>\n

Do you ask me to explain my history?<\/h3>\n

Do you realize what this does to me?<\/h3>\n

You use your power to turn it around and make me feel obligated to tell you,<\/h3>\n

It’s okay.<\/h3>\n

It’s okay, as I fight internal battles of shame.<\/h3>\n

Shame that was never mine to carry.<\/h3>\n

It’s okay, as I ignore that my life is an uphill healing journey.<\/h3>\n

But in a split second,<\/h3>\n

I freeze to ensure that you did not offend my community or me.<\/h3>\n

Then, I am expected to teach a history I\u2019m still learning.<\/h3>\n

Because again,<\/h3>\n

my skin tone speaks louder than my capacity to explain,<\/h3>\n

and you need me to tell you,<\/h3>\n

It’s okay.<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

Breathe<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n
\n
\n