Protests, Race and Justice
The past week has seen a wave of protests on race and injustice sweep the United States.
I started the New Maps series with a specific goal in mind – to try and understand how our collective decisions over the last several decades haven’t always reflected our deepest values. My hope is that by better understanding how these ‘maps’ have led us to the present, we can build better ones for the future.
With this perspective in mind, there is much to be read and written about race and justice in the United States and Canada. As you are no doubt aware, these protests are not about one single incident. They are about decades of police violence against Black Americans, and about the deep-seated systemic racism that exists in American society. This is also a story that very much exists in Canada – yet is often overlooked because of our proximity to the United States.
However, this is not my story to tell, because it’s not one that I’ve lived personally. Though I am a visible minority, the lived experience of Black Americans and Canadians is different.
In place of this week’s column, I’d like to offer a set of resources that have helped me learn, over the years, and in the last few days. These perspectives have helped me better understand the sweeping arc of the Black experience in North America.
No one can truly understand the lived experience of another. But we can listen to their voices and hold their truths – and I believe that this is what we are called to do right now. This takes time: it can’t be accomplished with a quick donation or a re-post on social media. If you haven’t yet, I’d like to encourage you to take that time.
Barack Obama has spoken on race many times, both during and after his presidency. His statement over the weekend was followed up by a longer essay detailing how our aspirations can be translated into action. I also want to share two of his past speeches:
Delivered in 2015 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Selma, “For We Were Born of Change” explores America’s racial history and march towards justice – in the shadow of the Ferguson protests against police violence.
Just three months later, President Obama delivered “Amazing Grace”, a eulogy to the Reverend Clementa Pinckney, who was killed in the historic Mother Emanuel AME church along with eight parishioners, by a white supremacist. In the speech, Obama talks about the history of Black churches, explores the meaning of Grace and tells us that 'justice grows out of recognition of ourselves in each other'.
Zak Cheney-Rice writes about how the protests we have witnessed are ‘responses to untenable social conditions’. He helps us understand the social context of what we are witnessing and links to important research and scholarship.
Brian Stevenson is a civil rights lawyer and the author of Just Mercy. In this podcast interview, he talks about his experience growing up amidst segregation, America’s legacy on race, and his work to correct the injustices of America’s justice system (also, a link to Brian’s TED Talk)
Ahmed Hussen offers a Canadian perspective. I had the privilege to help Ahmed, (then Minister of Immigration, and now Minister of Families and Social Development) prepare a talk for TEDxToronto 2017. Ahmed chose to share his experience of ‘Two Canadas”. A country of generosity and opportunity. And, a country that struggles with inclusion and systemic racism – leading to debilitating effects for Black communities.
There have been so many eloquent, moving, and heartbreaking speeches in the last few days:
The rapper Killer Mike spoke to his fellow Atlanta residents, urging them to avoid violence and instead ‘organize and mobilize’
Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, reflects on the different dominos that are connecting to each other to form a ‘giant wave’ and prompts us to reflect on the ways in which the contract of our society applies unequally to Black Americans. Noah grew up in South Africa during Apartheid, and has shared his own experiences in his book, Born a Crime, as well as in many podcasts
In an emotional speech on the floor of the US Senate, Cory Booker – one of only three Black senators – asks “Do you see me? Do you know my experiences? Do you see the failings of our ideals?” Senator Booker is the former Mayor of Newark, and his book, United, is a remarkable exploration of Cory’s life, and the lives of Black residents of Newark.
Finally, here are two sets of resources for action: from the Obama Foundation, and one focused on Canada
-Kapil