RACISM & INCLUSIVE LISTENING

RACISM & INCLUSIVE LISTENING

I was fortunate enough to attend the Ethnic Community Council of Queensland (ECCQ) Network Meeting yesterday (THANKS Lisa and Kriszta :)) focused on the issue of racism in schools. Needless to say it was brilliant and we had the great privilege of listening to a number of fascinating speakers including Dr John Bosco Ngendakurio, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM MD, Cameron Harsley, Deputy Commissioner, QLD Police, Charis Mullen, Minister for Child Safety, Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Corrine McMillan, Assistant Minister for Education and Youth Justice.

There was two things that struck me in the conversation. The first one was the importance of listening to both understanding the problem and arriving at effective solutions. For example, in Dr Ngendakurio's presentation, which focused on a study of the experiences of 'students of colour' in secondary schools, the students repeatedly emphasised the harm caused by being ignored and disregarded. Conversely, when they were listened to, they identified a range of pointed and practical solutions. Including the simple act of introducing mandatory recording and reporting on racist incidents in schools. Can you imagine the impact that this would have if we reported on racism in schools along with NAPLAN?

The other thing that struck me was, given the almost ludicrous obviousness of just listening, how is it that we are still confronted, in 2024, by the endemic failure of listening in our public institutions? It seems to be a triumph of nonsense defying understanding. However, it becomes much more easy to understand once we appreciate the centrality of competitive individualism to the dominant culture, that is, as a gloss, the 'Western Anglo-Saxon culture'. Because it is this aspect of the dominant culture that authorises and legitimises the triumph of one individual's thinking, interests and ideas over another. Rather than more communitarian cultures that privilege the community over the individual. Not surprisingly, this rarefication of the individual's interests gives rise to not listening, not wanting to listen, and not even knowing how to listen. It gives rise to the kind of meetings that we all experience where we sit in rows and people argue who has the better idea. It gives rise to dominated groups speaking but nobody listening. And it gives rise to a leadership who believe that authoritative, unilateral decision making is the best way to go.

Consequently, I believe, if we are to progress social justice and anti-racism, we need to root out 'exclusive listening', that kind of listening, and leadership, based on the egotistic need of the individual to impose their point of view over all others, wherever it occurs - including our leadership, our teams, our communities and most importantly ourselves. I'd welcome your thoughts :) rod