- ontariobold
Navigating Racism and Imposter Syndrome
As people of colour, specifically Black people, unfortunately we face a unique set of circumstances and barriers that other races do not. As such, it is important for us to be able to address these barriers and circumstances, therefore, our last workshop covered the topics of navigating racism and imposter syndrome.

Definitions
Racism: based on the idea that different races possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another
Racism = belief while discrimination/microaggressions = actions
Imposter syndrome: an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be; the experience of feeling like a “phony”
How are they connected?: Negative stereotypes and societal expectations can create a powerful feeling of self-doubt, resulting in imposter syndrome
Here are some interesting and thought-provoking videos pertaining to racism and imposter syndrome that we watched as a group.
Michelle Obama Talks about Imposter Syndrome:
Amelia and Maggie discuss racism:
Unsurprisingly, most people cope with race-related stress ineffectively which can foster a lot of negative feelings and eventually health problems. Here is a list of ineffective coping mechanisms that we discussed:
Avoidance: ignoring your feelings
Disengaging: isolating yourself
Substance use: the use of alcohol or drugs as escapism
Can lead to emotional reactions and health concerns such as:
Anxiety
Self-doubt
Heart disease or hypertension (high blood pressure)
As Black people, it is important that we begin to cope with race-related stress, before the burden becomes too harmful. Here is a list of healthy and effective coping mechanisms that aid in the navigation of race-related stress and imposter syndrome:
Build a network of support
Connect with people who have similar experiences
Utilize your belief system
I.e., confiding in your spiritual leader(s)
Develop a positive cultural identity
Learn about the history of your cultural group
Reframe negative situations
Identify negative feelings
Perform a reality check
Make a positive reinterpretation
Get involved
Social action groups or school clubs
If you want more information about this you can read about it here