| Affinity Groups | Groups of people who come together around shared aspects of their identity, in which aspects of their identities lead to minoritized and marginalized experiences. Affinity groups are important because they provide support, give space to share experiences, and offer safety so people can be themselves without fear of judgment. We hope that the affinity groups at Nobles provide safety and comfort. Affinity groups also discuss and offer action steps that our school can take to build a more inclusive and equitable community. “Gathering in safe spaces around shared identity allows students to engage in conversations about how they can subvert the structures that push them to the margins.” (Teaching Tolerance). |
| Anti-racism | An active and consistent process of change to eliminate individual, institutional and systemic racism as well as the oppression and injustice racism causes. |
| Black Lives Matter | “#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.” Source: blacklivesmatter.com |
| Code-Switching |
Code-switching is the conscious or unconscious act of "switching" or adjusting one’s style of speech, appearance, behavior, and expression depending on the specific situation of whom one is speaking to, what is being discussed, and the relationship and power and/or community dynamics between those involved. Code switching occurs to optimize the comfort of others in exchange for fair treatment, quality service, and employment opportunities. For example, research suggests that code-switching often occurs in spaces where negative stereotypes of Black people run counter to what are considered “appropriate” behaviors and norms for a specific environment. For more information check out NPR’s Code Switch podcast or read this article from the Harvard Business Review on "The Costs of Code Switching." |
| Cultural Appropriation | The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society. |
| Implicit Bias |
Occurs when someone consciously rejects stereotypes and supports anti-discrimination efforts but also unconsciously holds negative associations in their mind. Implicit bias plays a role in our interactions with other people as a result of messages (direct and subtle) we all pick up from the world around us. Although we all have negative and positive biases, implicit bias tends to work against those groups already marginalized. If you would like to take a test on implicit bias from Harvard, click here. |
| Microaggression(s) | The verbal and nonverbal slights, insults, words, and/or behaviors that marginalized groups experience, hear, and feel on a regular basis. Oftentimes, individuals who inflict microaggressions are unaware of doing so as a result of being products of social constructs and conditioning. Experiencing microaggressions can have a detrimental impact on one’s physical and mental health. For more, see this video from Vox, “What are Microaggressions?” |
| Social Justice | Social justice is our goal for our community, our country, and the world. We aim for a society where people are physically and mentally secure; where people practice allyship and respect for self and others; and where we guarantee rights and resources are equitable for all community members. To move toward social justice, we must all acknowledge the agency and impact of our actions, accept responsibility for self and others, and act with compassion. |
| White Privilege |
Refers to the unquestioned and unearned set of advantages, entitlements, benefits and choices bestowed on people solely because they are white. Advantages exist at every level of society, from individual to systemic privileges, and generally white people who experience such privilege do so without being conscious of it. We acknowledge that white privilege does not mean that white people do not or cannot experience discrimination and oppression; rather, race/skin color hasn’t made those struggles more difficult for them. Some examples of white privilege can include the following:
—(From Peggy McIntosh, "White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondences Through Work in Women Studies.") White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack | Peggy McIntosh Privilege: “Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do.” White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack | Peggy McIntosh Supremacy: The falsely-imposed assumption of superiority of one group of people over other groups of people through systems of domination and subordination. For example, white supremacy is the power system structured and maintained by persons who classify themselves as white, whether consciously or subconsciously determined; and who feel superior to people of other racial/ethnic identities. |