Hello Colleagues,

As we make our way through February, Black History Month, we continue to celebrate and honor the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. Black History Month also provides us with an invaluable opportunity to take the time to better understand how we as individuals and Cabin Crew Members can learn to everyday honour, uplift and respect the voices and lives of all Black people within our communities and workplace.

Throughout the month we have taken the time to get to know some of our local CUPE 4070 Black members and engaged with them in discussions about their experiences on the line. Our intention in doing so was to highlight something that each one of us can do every day to lend our support to Black people. So, we asked our Black CUPE 4070 members to share with us questions, comments or assumptions that have been directed at them that were hurtful or upsetting?

What follows is a list of some of the responses we received from our Black CCMs:

• Can I touch your hair?  

• Is that your hair real? 

• Is English your first language?  

• Where are you from?  

• Did you grow up in Canada?  

• You look so exotic 

Each of these questions, comments, or assumptions can be classified as ‘microaggressions’. The definition of a microaggression is: the everyday, subtle, intentional — and oftentimes unintentional — interactions or behaviors that communicate some sort of bias toward historically marginalized groups. Understanding what microaggressions are and the impact they can have on those they are directed towards is an important teaching moment for each and every one of us about how we can more respectfully communicate with and honor Black persons. 

There are a number of great resources available to help understand microaggressions and how we can avoid and learn from them.  We have included the links to three such articles below:

• https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2021/10/22/50-things-not-to-say-to-black-people/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2021/10/22/50-things-not-to-say-to-black-people/

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/culturally-speaking/202005/you-ve-committed-microaggression-now-what

  
More information on microaggressions are also highlighted in the videos provided below:  

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE7FqMXWvUw

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq4OM5EUOsc

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSyqOGxkIeQ

 
We sincerely hope that Black History Month be a time of reflection, listening, and learning as we move towards greater solidarity with Black people, Black communities, and our fellow Black crew members. 

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD)