Yesterday Starbucks closed most of its stores in the USA to provide anti-bias training for their staff. This was part of their response to the incident at one of their locations in Philadelphia where the police were called and two Black men were arrested as they waited for their friend. Starbucks …
anti-Black racism
What Does Anti-Black Racism Look Like?
Yesterday, a story ran in the Globe and Mail about an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal ruling for a restaurant to pay a Black man $10,000.00 in compensation. He and his (Black) friends were asked to prepay for their food. You can read the article here. It’s more evidence of anti-Black racism in …
Starbucks Anti-Bias Training – the tip of the iceberg
In the wake of last week’s events where two Black men were arrested for hanging around a Starbucks while waiting for a friend, Starbucks has announced it will be closing 8,000 stores in the USA to offer anti-bias training. That equals about 175,000 employees. When you do the math, that’s a fairly …
[Continue reading] Starbucks Anti-Bias Training – the tip of the iceberg
Taking a Knee… and what created the movement
I was really busy with a project this past week, so this weekend was my first chance to catch up on the Take a Knee movement. I’m intrigued by the history as well as what it has become. You can read about it and watch the video here. Taking a Knee Here's a rudimentary synopsis: Colin Kaepernick …
[Continue reading] Taking a Knee… and what created the movement
The Subtleties of Racism
Last weekend, a good friend of mine was the only Black person at a wedding. There was one guest there, a white woman, who was intent on making sure my friend understood that she “got it”; that she was an ally. She sought my friend out throughout the evening, on multiple occasions, and shared her …
Serena Williams; Responding to Racism
Serena Williams was confronted with (and responded to) racism through social media. You can read all about it here. The subtlety of racism Racism is often subtle. And as such it comes out of people’s mouths in ways that we often don’t catch: “You’re not really Black.” “I hope the baby doesn’t …
Anti-Black Racism in Canada
Last Friday morning, my world felt different. I had watched Desmond Cole’s documentary The Skin We’re In on CBC the night before (if you missed it, you can watch it here). The Skin We're In - a brief overview The Skin We’re In was insightful, personal and thought-provoking. I appreciated …
Silence = Complicity
Many of you are likely familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote: “There comes a time when silence becomes betrayal.” I would argue that time has nothing to do with it. Silence equals betrayal anytime – whether we realize it or not, whether we are alone or in a group – because it equals …
Racism in York Region District School Board
Nancy Elgie’s resignation as a trustee from the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) is a good thing, but let’s be clear that it’s only a step in the right direction. The school board has been in the news frequently over the past few months about allegations of racism. Nancy Elgie's use of …
[Continue reading] Racism in York Region District School Board
What Happens When Black Lives Matter
This past Tuesday, at the Pride Toronto AGM, members voted to uphold the demands of Black Lives Matter made last summer at the Pride parade. One of those demands was the removal of police floats from the Parade. Police spokesperson Mark Pugash expressed disappointment, and is quoted in the …