Resource page for social justice.

The picture is Ma’at the Kemet (Egypt) goddess of truth and justice. From the earliest eras in Kemet (Egypt), people considered her as essential for the stability of life. She represented truth, justice, harmony and balance

Privilege & Oppression
WHY?
The study of Privilege & Oppression and the specifics therein makes us aware of the social fabric we inhabit. The different communities we encounter in our cities & how we interact with the people in those places. It also helps us develop culture sensitivity, class awareness, and consciousness of gender inequality. It opens our eyes to the power dynamics influencing our societies, systemically, personally and in our communities. This helps us to recognize unhealthy and toxic inequality and power dynamics in our AcroYoga circles, classes and communities. P&O studies brings our awareness to our personal biases & prejudices so we can see it when it shows up in ourselves, our teachers and our students. 

HOW?
At AcroYoga Montreal the study of Privilege and Oppression is an integral component of the Acroyoga Montreal pedagogy. Since 2009 the AYM teacher training has made space for learning and analyzing the political and social systems that shape our perceptions and our realities.  
 
Through the learned and embodied experience of the founders Eugene Poku & Jessie Goldberg, the works of Augusto Boal, Joanna Macy’s “Work that Reconnects”, and certified AYM teacher Natalie Brewster Nguyen’s curriculum, the AYM approach to the subject matter was formed. Years of work and hundreds of hour of input form learned coworkers, personal research, extensive literary study has established a strategy for sharing information about this crucial subject. It fosters an open approach to teaching and learning about the subject matter

Knowing our place in the world only happens when we know our world. At Acroyoga Montreal, there is no separation of AcroYoga, yoga, and reality. To live apart from this world is not the goal but to transform ourselves and our societies rooted in a deep understanding of the social, political and economic systems & institutions we engage with on a daily basis.

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“Shades” is an autobiographical play written and choreographed by Jessie Goldberg and Eugene Poku in 1988, based on a 20-minute dance number called T.C.O.B. created in 1986. The show chronicles their individual struggles of racism, sexism and lookism in the dance world and society. How they negotiate and deconstruct these elements with each other and their friends to develop a personal and business relationship that gives them the tools to see and begin the process of excising the effects of the systemic oppression in their lives and sharing this new consciousness with others. It was dramaturge by Playwrights Workshop Montreal , produced by Youth Theater and toured 200 plus high schools in Montreal and surrounding regions between 1989 -1990

Kids are our future, if we cannot educate our future into being able to deal with one another then we will not have a future to live forward for,” – Gray Jean

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JUSTICE MOVEMENT founded by Natalie Brewster Nguyen and Danya Davis. They offer intersectional social justice training for practitioners, leaders, teachers, managers, owners and people of all stations of life. 

Their mission "Justice Movement is a training and educational collective committed to promoting a functional analysis of systemic privilege and oppression. As teachers and practitioners in several fields of fitness, we are aware of a strong desire for our studios and communities to become more inclusive and diverse. Informed and accountable communities are essential to individual health, survival, and social change. In order to work towards healthy and accountable communities, we must acknowledge and address systemic inequality, power dynamics, and injustice. We need to lift each other up. To support this process, Justice Movement provides tools and trainings focused on building and applying a working analysis of intersectionality, inclusivity and social justice."

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Below are videos, films and books we have seen & read that have enlightened and informed our understanding and experience of the systemic laws, customs, barriers, etc. that maintain the status quo. -Eugene Poku & Jessie Goldberg

Hidden Colors 3: The Rules of Racism (2014)

Filmmaker Tariq Nasheed explores the topics of race, racism, and history within the United States. It starts from the "Rules of Racism" (2:36-5:56). watch this section to get a synopsis of the whole documentary, if you have time watch the whole thing.

Angela Davis (2books)    – “Women Race & Class” -  
                                          – “The Autobiography of Angela Davis”
A voice for the ages, telling it like it is. (AYM)

Joanana Macy & Molly Brown – “Coming Back to Life”
Knowledge, wisdom and practices to awaken, guide, and move one (AYM) - “towards the creation of a life sustaining human culture1” (Rabbi Mordechai Liebling)


Thomas King – “The Inconvenient Indian”
An author who manages to make us laugh while spilling the beans about the attempted genocide of native people in North America. (AYM)


Matthew Remski – “Practice And All Is Coming: Abuse, Cult Dynamics, And Healing In Yoga And Beyond” A game changing book that does not shrink from its duty to shine a light on dark places. (AYM)