Rosa Park’s legendary sit-in by the window on the Mongomery, Alabama city bus in December 1955 reminds us of Viola Desmond’s earlier decision in 1946 to use her 40-cent movie ticket to sit wherever she pleased in the Roseland Film Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Forbidding Black people from using public spaces—restaurants, swimming pools, prime seats in public transportation, movie theatres, sports facilities (the late Harry Gairey Jr.’s ice-skating experience as a Toronto teenager in 1945, for example)—was a longstanding tactic designed to foster feelings of alienation from society.
Both events reflect a clear determination to resist systemic, and socially entrenched injustices intended to dehumanize racialized people, deny them equality and inflict undue stress even in the most mundane activities of life. These stories also remind racialized people that their freedom and dignity must be unapologetically demanded—asserted as inalienable and non-negotiable. True allies in the struggle for Inclusion, Diversity Equity and Anti-Racism (IDEA) recognize attitudes of resilience and actively support them.
Reflecting later on the bus incident Rosa Parks explained: “I thought of Emmett Till – a 14-year-old African American who was lynched in Mississippi in [August] 1955, after being accused of offending a White woman in her family’s grocery store, whose killers were tried and acquitted – and I just couldn’t go back.”
In her autobiography, My Story, Parks added: “I was not old,… I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
Today, as Canadians proudly celebrate Viola Desmond whose 40-cent protest—$6.52 cents today– is commemorated on our $10 bill, we also remember, with gratitude, Rosa Parks who played her part in extending the ever-growing line of resilient Black leaders and wore her personal mantle of courage and determination with distinction. #inclusion #diversity #equity #antiracism
Whether you’re just beginning your IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism) journey or looking to strengthen existing initiatives, knowing where to start can be challenging. Our complimentary 45-minute Discovery Meeting is designed to help you gain clarity, explore your options, and identify the best path forward for your organization….
Recent reports that two plasma donors in Winnipeg died following donations to for-profit plasma collection centres have reignited debate about the role of paid plasma collection in Canada. While the circumstances remain under investigation, the provincial health ministry is reportedly considering whether to ban paid plasma donation. These developments raise urgent questions about how Canada regulates an industry that relies on the biological contributions of its donors…
Every so often, a book, film, or conversation stays with me long after it ends. Not because I agree with everything it says, but because it forces me to confront difficult questions. That was my experience watching the film 2073.
So many headlines today are about political polarization, misinformation, social division, climate instability, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. We encounter these stories so frequently that they can begin to feel disconnected from one another.
Conflict happens in every team. But in global and multicultural teams, misunderstandings often arise because culture shapes how we disagree, express emotions, and resolve conflicts. When we misinterpret the behaviour of colleagues from other cultures, trust can quickly erode.
Anna Kostecka, an associate of DiversiPro hosts the podcast What Works Across Cultures. In this episode, she speaks with DiversiPro’s founder and principal consultant, Hamlin Grange…
Why is inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism (IDEA) important in your personal and professional life?
I realized early that people’s ability to have more choices was often influenced by their identity and that a society is only as adept at addressing adversity as meeting the physical, physiological, mental and emotional needs of people. That is what led me to social work: micro-level work as a psychotherapist, helping people access support and have more tools in their toolbox to access…
One of the most powerful events I’ve attended recently was at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto on March 8. It was a celebration of International Women’s Day through performances by Indigenous artists, curated by Denise Bolduc. I was deeply grateful for the opportunity to attend this event and hear the unique voices and stories of Indigenous artists who are breaking barriers in the music industry, where they have been historically underrepresented…
