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Diversity Resources

These resources can help you begin to explore the issues of diversity and race. This list isn’t complete or exhaustive, but it’s suggested as a starting point.

Books

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, Austin Channing Brown

An eye-opening account of growing up Black, Christian, and female that exposes how white America’s love affair with “diversity” so often falls short of its ideals.

Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates

Coates’ attempt to answer big questions about American history and ideals in a letter to his adolescent son.

The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power, Desmond Cole

A bracing, provocative and perspective-shifting book about race and resistance in modern-day Canada.

The Cross and the Lynching Tree, James H. Cone

Renowned Black theologian explores the interconnection of the cross and the lynching tree in the history and souls of Black folk in America.

The Cross and the Lynching Tree study guide

A helpful study guide to this work from the Diocese of Rhode Island.

The Black Christ, Kelly Brown Douglas

A compelling portrait of who Jesus is for the black community, from the early slave testimonies to the writings of prominent religious and literary figures through the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.

Invisible North: The Search for Answers on a Troubled Reserve, Alexandra Shimo

A vivid first-person account of life on a troubled reserve that illuminates a difficult and oft-ignored history.

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City, Tanya Talaga

A look at the history of Thunder Bay, which has come to manifest Canada’s long struggle with human rights violations against Indigenous communities.

The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book, Gord Hill

A powerful and historically accurate graphic portrayal of Indigenous resistance to the European colonization of the Americas.

Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation, Derald Wing Sue

An analysis of the many subtle forms of bias and discrimination which take their toll on marginalized people, along with practical suggestions on what can be done.

White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo

An exploration of the phenomenon of white fragility: how it develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

Everyday White People Confront Racial and Social Injustice: 15 Stories

The personal stories, experiences, and reflections of 15 prominent White anti-racists.

Growing Up White: In the Heart of Memphis, David May

The story of the enlightenment of one young man who lived through the Civil Rights Movement but didn’t do anything significant about it.

White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, Tim Wise

A personal examination of the way in which racial privilege shapes the daily lives of white Americans in every realm.

Audiovisual resources

Journey to Justice, Roger Ted McNair, NFB

This documentary pays tribute to a group of Canadians who took racism to court. They are Canada’s unsung heroes in the fight for Black civil rights.

In the Shadow of Gold Mountain, Karen Cho, NFB

Filmmaker Karen Cho travels from Montreal to Vancouver to uncover stories from the last survivors of the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act.

A Class Divided, Jane Elliott

A group of elementary students experiences what discrimination feels like.

Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts, Anglican Video

From the Primate’s Commission on Discovery, Reconciliation and Justice. This award-winning documentary provides education and insight into the racist foundations of many of our property and other laws still in existence to this day.

Colour Code, Denise Balkissoon and Hannah Sung

A podcast about race in Canada.

Roundtable Conversations, Black Anglicans of Canada

A series of speakers and conversations pertaining to race in Canada.

Sacred Teachings, Anglican Church of Canada

This podcast series features respected Indigenous speakers with a different theme for each season, including Dismantling Racism (Season 3: Summer 2020).

Deep Cuts, CBC

A compilation of The Current’s “Facing Race” town hall series.

Online

The TRC’s 94 Calls to Action

Calls to action made to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.

Was there a residential school near you?

Interactive map from the CBC.

The Danger of a Single Story, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

Jane Elliott’s website

Internationally known teacher, lecturer, diversity trainer and recipient of the National Mental Health Association Award for Excellence in Education, exposes prejudice and bigotry for what it is: an irrational class system based upon purely arbitrary factors.

The Story of Africville, the Canadian Encyclopedia

For many people, Africville represents the oppression faced by Black Canadians, and the efforts to right historic wrongs.

Treaties

Treaty 13

The Toronto Purchase (York-Simcoe, York-Scarborough area)

Treaties 22 and 23

Cessions of 12 Mile Creek, 16 Mile Creek and River Credit Reserves (Trent-Durham)

Treaty 19

The Ajetance Purchase (York-Credit Valley)

The First Williams Treaty

Christian Island, Georgina Island and Rama

The Second Williams Treaty

Rice Lake, Mud Lake, Scugog Lake and Alderville

Timelines