nursingforsocialjustice

The world we live in is complex. In our world there are different groups that have more power, and groups that have less power. Never has it been more important for us to think deeply and act swiftly about how to re-organize systems we take for granted as true and right to equalize the balance of power. Within structures, like the healthcare system, space must deliberately be created to encourage thoughtful reflection about problems like racism that are deeply embedded within the system, in taken for granted policies and processes. It is time to take off the blinders and stop the rhetoric of “it doesn’t happen here” because it is systematic. It’s not just police that do policing.

Think about what it means to decide whether or not a person gets to go outside today. Think about what it means to decide whether or not a person gets to use the telephone today to have contact with the outside world. Think about the power that a group has over another in this this situation. What are the checks and balances?

Think about the privilege of not being labelled crazy. Think about the privilege of having a family, parents, siblings, friends, that are in someone’s life and stable because they lived in one place and go to one school. Think about the privilege of having the same skin colour, the same upbringing, speak the same language as the person that decides whether or not you get to go outside today. Think about all the conversations about that person that happen without that person. The decisions that happen. The way we frame this. How did that frame get built? Who decided how big to build that frame, how what type of material to use to build it, the screen that is put inside it that filter what we are looking at?

When decisions are made, like what “safe” means, how often do we ask “what does being safe mean to you? What would it look like if you woke up this morning and you felt safe?” Think about that.

Nothing about us without us. Think about what that means.

Peace,

Michelle D.