So, you want to be an ally against systemic anti-Black racism?

By Karen Carter in the Toronto Star

Toronto is a diverse city by all accounts — visible minorities make up the majority (51.5 percent) of our population according to a 2016 census — yet the wealthiest people in our city have to make a concerted effort to even see this diversity in their day-to-day lives.

I have seen this first-hand; the closer you get to that top 1 percent, the less visible that diversity, which I believe is our city’s strength, becomes.

It is this knowledge and understanding that makes this present moment so difficult. We are in a moment ripe with the opportunity to make serious changes to the systems that maintain and perpetuate systemic racism; this is a moment for thoughtful and intentional action.

It’s your responsibility to ask questions about the long-term impacts and objectives of the projects or initiatives you are looking to support. The easiest and most comfortable path is usually one that will have the least impact. If the very community you are looking to help is not consulted, included in, or even driving your initiative, you are very likely unintentionally making it harder for those in the community who are already doing the work.