Racism – Parents for Diversity | Diversity and Inclusion in Children's Education

In Solidarity With Parents of Black Children and Allied Organizations

June 22, 2020 / 2 minutes of reading

Parents for Diversity is an Ottawa-based group of parents, caregivers, and allies with varied lived experiences working to support parents and caregivers as they advocate for their children in educational spaces using an intersectional, anti-oppression lens. We recognize the pervasiveness of anti-Black racism in Ontario schools and the adverse effects of anti-Black racism on Black […]

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If you’re tired of talking about race, consider how Black communities feel…

June 1, 2020 / 9 minutes of reading

Law Professor and mindfulness practitioner Rhonda Magee wrote in her latest book The Inner Work of Racial Justice that “racial justice begins with ourselves.” She shares vulnerable stories of racism and injustice that she defines as “race stories.” Why are “race stories” relevant in how we parent our children and our accountability to anti-racism efforts? Race stories include

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The logos of the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service

Mayor Watson and Chief Sloly: Enforcement of COVID-19 measures must respect human rights

May 18, 2020 / 3 minutes of reading

Dear Mayor Watson and Chief Sloly, Parents for Diversity is a non-profit organization of parents, educators and equity allies committed to achieving inclusive and non-discriminatory learning environments that allow children to fulfill their true potential in this world. We are writing to you in your role as leaders of this city responsible for ensuring the

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Examples of women in sexy Halloween costumes

How to celebrate Halloween WITHOUT cultural appropriation or racist stereotypes

October 28, 2019 / 2 minutes of reading

This week is Halloween, which means it is time to talk about costumes, racism, stereotypes, and cultural appropriation. We are using this week’s blog post to amplify some excellent voices that have spoken beautifully to this issue already. “Dressing up as another cultural group diminishes that cultural group to a caricature. And for youth, Indigenous

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How Blackface can be a teachable moment…in the Classroom and at Home

September 23, 2019 / 7 minutes of reading

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

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Where are you REALLY from?

September 15, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

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

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Photo of a person holding a hockey stick

Racism in Hockey

March 6, 2019 / 5 minutes of reading

Outrage over a recent hockey game reverberated through social media after a Black hockey player, Jonathan-Ismaël Diaby, was targeted by racist taunting and slurs. People are angry not only because of the racist incident in which a so-called “fan” called Diaby the n-word and mimicked a gorilla, while his family and girlfriend were harassed by

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A Weekend of Workshops on Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Schools

February 18, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

In March, 2018, Parents for Diversity, along with black organizations in the National Capital Region, met with then Attorney General of Ontario, Yasir Naqvi, to discuss systemic racism in schools. During the meeting, parents shared their experiences of being silenced by teachers and school boards, and feeling alienated when their children experience anti-black racism. The

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