International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Library Zest Team
- Mar 20, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 21, 2023
On March 21st, Canada marks a special day, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Closer to home, Simcoe County has been celebrating the #ITSTARTS campaign throughout the month of March. Both of these events are to recognize that there are injustices and prejudices that take place every day, on a small scale and large.
Racial discrimination refers to the act of treating people unjustly or differently because of their race, ethnic origin, skin colour, language, or religion. Racial discrimination can also be systemic, where it's built into our institutions and structures of society. So, we may wonder, what can I do to end racial discrimination?
First and foremost, education. Learn about the histories of these issues and how it has shaped Canada. And remember, this is an ongoing history, there is always room to learn and grow.
Second, speak out. See something, say something. If we see discriminatory action or language, speak out against it and stand in solidarity with those being targeted.
Third, we can listen. Listen to racialized communities and aid in amplifying their voices.
Lastly, encourage anti-racism and anti-discrimination in your workplace, school and community.
Your friends at EPL have curated a list of wonderful titles for all ages that highlight the importance of equality and equity. Click each link to see availability in our collection.
Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…
In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.
Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.
#BlackInSchool is Habiba Cooper Diallo's high school journal, in which she documents, processes, and resists the systemic racism, microaggressions, stereotypes, and outright racism she experienced in Canada's education system.
Powerful and eye-opening, Cooper Diallo illustrates how our schools reinforce rather than erode racism: the handcuffing and frisking of students of colour by police at school, one-dimensional, tokenistic curricula of Black people, and the constant barrage of overt racism from students and staff alike. She shows how systemic racism works, how it alienates and seeks to destroys a child's sense of self. She shows how our institutions work to erase the lived experiences of Black youth and tries to erase Black youth themselves.
Taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released after years of detention.
Alone and without any skills, support or families, the teens find their way to the seedy and foreign world of Downtown Eastside Vancouver, where they cling together, striving to find a place of safety and belonging in a world that doesn’t want them. The paths of the five friends cross and crisscross over the decades as they struggle to overcome, or at least forget, the trauma they endured during their years at the Mission.
Sarah McBride is on a mission to fight for transgender rights around the world. But before she was a prominent activist, and before she became the first transgender person to speak at the Democratic National Convention in 2016, she was a teenager struggling with her identity. Sarah's story of identity, love, and tragic loss serves as a powerful entry point for readers who want to gain a deeper understanding of gender identity and what it means to be openly transgender. From issues like bathroom access to healthcare, identification and schools, Sarah weaves the important political milestones, cultural and political debates, and historical context into a personal journey that will open hearts and change minds.
An approachable guide to being a thoughtful, informed ally to disabled people, with actionable steps for what to say and do (and what not to do) and how you can help make the world a more accessible, inclusive place. Disabled people are the world’s largest minority, an estimated 15 percent of the global population. But many of us–disabled and non-disabled alike–don’t know how to act, what to say, or how to be an ally to the disability community
Spring is here, and it’s almost time for Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors. Siblings Mintoo and Chintoo are busy gathering flowers to make into colorful powders to toss during the festival. And when at last the big day comes, they gather with their friends, family, and neighbors for a vibrant celebration of fresh starts, friendship, forgiveness, and, of course, fun!
To learn more about the #ITSTARTS campaign, visit the County of Simcoe's website. And, to learn more about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, visit the United Nations End Racism Day page.
By Dawn Travers
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