Resilience: Podcast 2.2: Reflection Question

This episode embodies the reason we have included this podcast in this module: to differentiate between individuals choosing to work on their resilience and systems that perpetuate the oppression of specific groups. It deals head-on with the issue of demanding continued resilience from groups that ultimately removes responsibility from the system to make the changes that will enable the success of those groups.

Kulsoom Anwer articulates it well: “I also think it’s patronizing. You know, the discussion of resilience. Because it’s just an attempt to absolve the system, and absolve ourselves of responsibility. And to reinvigorate the idea of meritocracy and that if the students just try hard enough they can make it or they can make it in a way that’s best for them. I hear a lot of well, maybe the reason we don’t see the representation is students. There’s nothing wrong with the college train. There’s nothing wrong with the trades. And of course, those things are true […] nobody’s ever said anything was wrong with any of those things. But it seems to be the right answer only for some children. And so it’s like wanting what’s best for Black students within reason, you know. So resilience is part and parcel of those low expectations because it is essentially just a way to gloss over ongoing inequities and our role in them.”

So what can we do to be part of the change? What is one way suggested in this episode to combat these inequities, either within the education system or in society more broadly?