Why DEI in Canada struggles to uplift Black people

It is important that we in Canada understand our history so that we know how to move forward with clear solutions. (Shutterstock) by Christopher Stuart Taylor, University of Waterloo Canada has a long history of trying to show that we are better than the United States when it comes to race relations. Yet, we also struggle with many of the same racial challenges. Antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Indigenous racism and anti-Black racism continue to be the daily realities for many Canadians. As Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has become the latest culture war battleground in the United States, much of that same rhetoric has found its way to Canada. In 2023, some argued DEI and anti-racism training lead to the death of a Toronto principal. Others have suggested DEI statements create “ideological hiring” biases in post-secondary institutions. The University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University will soon host the 2024 Inter-Institutional Forum of the Scarborough Charter to combat anti-Black racism in Canadian higher education. The forum is jointly organized by the universities’ DEI and anti-racism offices. Most, if not all, senior equity leads from post-secondary institutions will be attending. This is effectively a DEI gathering. It is important that we...