From 1930s to 1950s, a group of Canadians took racism to court. It was the beginning of the struggle for Black civil rights. The 6 people who refused to accept inequality include Viola Desmond and Fred Christie. These are the brave pioneers who are thought to have secured justice for all Canadians. The disparity and inequity around us, however, suggest that the journey to real justice is still on.
Those champions helped pave the way for acceptance of diversity and multiculturalism. However, we are still far away from reaping the fruits of changing behaviours, making “others” feel the sense of belonging, dismantling systemic barriers and celebrating social justice. The good news is: every new generation has been able to shake off some of the entrenched prejudice and chip away the inequity.
The important thing for us to keep in mind that that DEI and justice are not mere words. However, without actions to achieve the intended outcomes, they will remain not more than mere words.
#DEI #EDI #diversity #diversityandinclusion #socialjustice #justice