When Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) stepped into an elevator in 1955 on his way to a meeting with his publisher, Houghton Mifflin, he encountered Annie Williams, the elevator operator. She was “an elegant, and petite woman who wore white gloves and a secret smile”.[1] Ms. Williams would later serve as the inspiration behind […]
How Blackface can be a teachable moment…in the Classroom and at Home Read More »
How many of us have been asked this question and have felt a sense of anxiety and discomfort but feel obliged to respond? The mere essence of the question reinforces social stratification. Every time I have been asked about my ethnicity, an alarm automatically goes off in my head. Small talk can be a great
Where are you REALLY from? Read More »
At Parents for Diversity, tennis isn’t usually at the top of our agenda, but parenting and solidarity with marginalized parents is always one of our top priorities. We are delighted for Bianca Andreescu and congratulate her on the astonishing achievement of becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title. Sports are a
Why White Moms Like Me Need to Reject Misogynoir Against Black Moms Like Serena Williams Read More »
Thousands of students in many of the English school boards will begin the new school year tomorrow. Like all beginnings, the school year welcomes new possibilities, opportunities and ways to think more critically about how to engage diverse identities and experiences. How a child experiences school can have a tremendous impact on their well-being and
By Simone Aba Akyianu Micro-aggressions are like bee stings. We can recover from the sting, but we never forget how it feels. Maybe you rock an Afro, maybe you have curly ringlets, or wear Senegalese twists, box braids, cornrows, locs or Bantu knots. Recently, California and New York State each passed a law to prohibit
Touching Black Hair as Micro-Aggression Read More »
Today marks the launch of the 2019 Ottawa Capital Pride Festival, from August 18th to 25th. This year is also the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that took place on June 28th 1969. Police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City. The raid was followed by a
20 2SLGBTQ+ Children and YA Books in Honour of Capital Pride Festival Read More »
A recent article published in the Atlantic poses the question: Why aren’t Black children represented in books about nature?In the article, Black American librarian and Gold Star Girl Scout (Girl Scouting’s highest honour) Michelle Martin notes the absence of books on library shelves featuring Black, Indigenous, and racialized children enjoying the outdoors. Martin tells the
Let’s Go Adventure Outdoors (With Books!) Read More »
My 5 year old came home one day asking me to dig up his old green snow suit so that he could wear it to school the next day. I asked him if there was something wrong with his newer one, quickly scanning zippers and pockets to see what might need mending. He paused and
Gender: the pressures to conform start young Read More »
by Leslie Robertson Our 5 year-old twins have been reading these books with their mamas for months now but it’s time to return them to the library. All three feature diverse characters and are overt in tackling broader social issues of either class or racism. Last Stop on Market Street is a very sweet story
Our Kids’ Book Pics Read More »
Op-ed published in Huffington Post My daughter scrolls through the atlas with her little fingers. “Mommy, is this the country where that man killed all the people?” She asks, pointing to New Zealand. “Why did he make such bad decisions?” I don’t know how to respond to her. How do I explain what happened to
We Need to Teach our Children to Embrace Diversity Read More »
