Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Value of Equality



EVERY YEAR

- more than half a million college students are targets of bias-driven slurs or physical assaults.

EVERY DAY
- at least one hate crime occurs on a college campus.

EVERY MINUTE
- a college student somewhere sees or hears racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise biased words or images.

Have you ever heard of the

"brown paper bag test”?

This test was once used to determine

whether you were allowed to attend a specific event

or whether or not you were allowed to be in a sorority/fraternity.

If your skin color was darker than the paper bag, you would be refused admittance.


Did you know that in the 19th century, there were thousands of KKK members in Canada?

At the same time, did you know that it was a crime for Chinese restaurant owners to hire white women?

Think racism is not an issue?

Think again.

Aboriginal Day in Canada June 21st

and Black History Month is in February…

what are you doing for it??


"If you want to know what the barrier to education is here,” an aboriginal teen told me, “it’s racism.”

Although Canada still has a racism barrier, the country has come a long way, and hopefully it keeps improving. There are many Canadians of many races who are famous whether they are musicians and actors to politicians and athletes.


Below are some of the many people of different races who have in their own way positively affected Canada and the USA.


  • Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball at UCLA!


  • Barrack Obama- the first African American president in the United States

polls show that if he was running in Canada, he would have won!


  • "Jim" Carrey… also Canadian!



  • Mike Myers is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter and film producer.



  • Ward Churchill- Political Activist and University Professor, American Indian Movement


  • Eden Robinson - famous native author of Monkey Beach and more!

  • Michael J. Fox is a Canadian film and television actor
  • Jackie Richardson - A veteran of the stage and the small and large screens
  • Ray Lewis, first Canadian born Black to win a medal in the Olympics
  • Jim Thorpe is considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports
  • 2002 Jean Augustine was sworn in as Canada's first black female Member of Parliament.
  • Keanu Charles Reeves - a Lebanese born Canadian-British-American actor
  • Russell Simmons is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist.
  • Charles became the first black provincial judge of Ontario
  • Fefe Dobson, rock singer…Canadian!
  • Telephone … Invented by : Alexander Graham Bell
  • Mary Ann Shadd was one of the first people to push for complete integration and opened the first school in Canada open to all races.
  • Canada receives more immigrants per capita than any other country.
  • Harriet Tubman helped hundreds of Southern slaves escape to the northern U.S. and Canada through the Underground Railroad


5 Ways To End Racism On Campus

Understand What A Hate Crime Is

WHAT IS A HATE CRIME?

A general description of this is “An offense committed against another person, with the specific intent to cause harm to that person due to their race, gender, sexual orientation”

A hate crime must be motivated by bias and/ or a crime must happen whether it be a physical assault, arson, vandalism, terrorism, or a threat.

Most hate crimes include race and ethnicity, but there is also religion, sexual orientation, gender, and disability.

Stand Up/Work Together

When a hate crime happens on your campus, will you stand up against it? Will you take action even if it is a group you’re not a part of? Will you do something about it or leave it to someone else?

Hate Remains….unless you stand up against it!

Working together isn't always easy. Formed alliances grow, change and weaken. To be a successful alliance, set goals and share thoughts and suggestions. Keep in mind that you are there to share your idea and that doesn’t mean everyone has the same views. Be open and accepting!

Alliances often unite in response to a bias crisis. Seek support from other groups that share your concerns. Many people have been through similar situations as you and may have good advice. Contact alumni and find out about past incidents and how they dealt with them. Faculty and administrators may offer support as they have seen other campaigns during their college days or days during their employment at your campus. If you feel like getting into a bigger alliance, keep in mind the national organizations such as NAACP, the Human Rights Campaign, and the National Conference for Community and Justice.


Help Support The Victims

Primary victims of hate crimes are those who have been directly affect by the incident. Also affected are secondary victims who are a part of the group who has been targeted by the incident. Both of these groups of people need your support to build up the strength and confidence to be proud of who they are and stand up to people putting them down.

Whether you join a club, express your opinions/views, personally help victims, or just stand up for your race, you are helping victims in one way or another. Making a public speech or rally is another great way to show your pride.

Certain victims choose to remain anonymous and are never known. Many remove themselves from the campus or environment completely.

Other victims become vocal and visible with the problem, and use their experience as a building block in stopping these crimes.

There is no "right" way to be a supporter, but there are many effective ways to show your support.

Educate Others On Tolerance



Expand on sources already available on campus:

As seen earlier this month, the international awareness created a foundation for the value of equality. Also, many campuses hold seminars and/or lectures to make the students aware that change needs to occur. Look into different groups at school and look for students/instructors who may be willing to help you get your word across about tolerance, racism, and diversity.

Do as we are doing. Take surveys, ask for anonymous feedback. These are great ways for people to express their opinions without being public about it. This makes many students feel more comfortable about speaking up!

Recommend that your students and faculty address similar issues in their research/courses as well.

Keep The Tolerance Going!

If you have started to educate others on tolerance and awareness, don’t stop! In a few years, there is going to be a completely new crowd of students, and they all need this same awareness.

Start a group or event that will keep going. Find future students to help you keep this in your school.

After you graduate, make sure the students and faculty are empowered to continue your advocacy work!!


*******Entrepreneur 2201 is presenting this value of equality as we are creating value to a brown paper bag like the ones used in the brown paper bag test. This week we are taking suggestions, comments, views and experiences with racism, and what you have done or would do in a situation of a hate crime. Putting all of these comments together, we plan to motivate everyone to take pride in their race and stop the racist hate crimes from happening. As a result, we are creating social value using these simple brown paper bags. Unless otherwise specified by you, your comments will be anonymous.

We are asking you to please take a few minutes and provide your comments to us. We will add them to our paper bag. The bag represents the whole world and everything inside represents the views of people in the world.

If you would like to express your views on our video, please contact me by email at bradley_lisa06@yahoo.com or lbrad872@mtroyal.ca and we can set that up!

Thank you for your time and your interest in the Value of Equality!


A few questions to answer for feedback if you don't have an ideas...

-How do you think our country is with racism?

-Do you have any ideas of more that could be done?

-Do you know someone who is racist whether it has affected you or not?

-Did you learn anything new/surprising from our site?

-What would you do/what have you done in a situation of a hate crime?

-Do you think racism will ever come to an end? If not, how do you think we can help it???

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

With all the racism in the world, one does not gain the ability to progress. Fighting, just on the color of your skin and on your religion, etc. I beleave is a waste of energy and an unproductive waste of your time.

Anonymous said...

Racism is horrible. Schools should have more alliances and groups that work toward resolving this issue. People need to be more aware not only of the issue but how to resolve it and help those who go through the hate crimes!

Anonymous said...

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

Martin Luther King

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately racism will never stop, but we can reduce it by influencing others to stop!"

Anonymous said...

I'm so proud of people for standing up for whats right. Everyone deserves to be treated the same. It shouldn't matter what color your skin is... or who you are married too. The only thing that matters is that you are happy to be you! I wish everyone the best and I hope that people do eventually learn to leave stuff alone.

Anonymous said...

If someone's skin color, religion, or sexual preference doesnt involve or affect you.....

then don't say anything it has nothing to do with you..!!!

Anonymous said...

Racism is another word for fear. It comes down to not understanding another persons culture, thinking and habits. It is also economic. People are afraid someone different can replace them at their job...do it better...take something they believe they are entitled to having or doing. It is about power.
Such a condition is not limited to people of color or culture. It is a reality in families, ethnic groups and religious organizations just as it is in a workplace, social club or nation. It will not change until mankind changes. It will only disappear from the social radar screen or sink under the surface of the culture. It will always be there.
The only real way it can be tamed is through openness and education. Openness to its reality in the lives of our citizens and education of our children before they can be affected by adults who value power.
Otherwise, hate will continue rolling on like a train without brakes on an incline.
We must continue to care about one another through action and words to teach a new generation that we are all the same...everyone of us...and fear will slowly disappear.

Anonymous said...

The 2 biggest problems in the world are.
#1 - Money: because it inspires greed, power struggles, and lazyness and stunts CREATIVITY and progress.

#2 - Racism: because what is creativity without diversity? Why should we judge other people because they are different and can inspire us with new ideas. if you haven't already figured it out i'm not just talking about skin color here. Theres many different types of racisms, that need adressing.

anyways i think racism is bullshit, EMBRACE CHANGE AND DIFFERENCES YOU MORONS GET IT RIGHT.

btw i was refering to the morons that won't be reading this since i'm pretty sure only antiracist ppl will be posting. anyways g'day yall

Anonymous said...

Racism must stop..

Anonymous said...

I've grown up with racism ever since I was young. It is a terrible thing and people need to understand instead of cowering away with such hurtful words and actions

Anonymous said...

Racism is insane!!

It's horrible that people are so insanely passionate as to hold something as superficial as a person's skin color against them.

Racism exists against blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians, Natives and many other cultures within this nation.

It is not racist to notice a person's skin color. This is called being observant. And that's nothing to be ashamed of...but judging someone based on their skin color is Racist! Just as judging someone based on their gender, sexual preference, religion and culture. We are all born with a certain skin color, and it is part of who we are. It is not something we can control. So why should anyone be held liable based solely on their genetic heritage?

They should be proud, and you should focus on being proud of your heritage and stop putting others down for how they were born and raised!

Anonymous said...

Rosa sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Barack could run, Barack ran so we all can fly.


god bless

Anonymous said...

I had an experiment of reverse discrimination. There were some programs at the colleges that Mark went to that he couldn't get in because they had to fill the spots with minoritys. So I guess it works both ways sometimes.

Anonymous said...

-How do you think our country is with racism?

It depends on what part of the country your asking it. Some places are improving but some slower than others..

Anonymous said...

Do you have any ideas of more that could be done?

I think the best idea for improving comes from parents not handing down these ideas and bigoted thoughts to the kids, even if it was handed down to them when they were small. I know my dads generation thought different but i've noticed and learned from that and am teaching my son different, and hope he learns from me and does the same!

Anonymous said...

-Do you know someone who is racist?

Yes i do, some bad, but mostly you can try and subtly change their thinking cause they are set in their ways...but it slowly has worked over the years, you cant force them but you can give them other thoughts on their ideas. Some do seem to seep in.

Anonymous said...

-What would you do/what have you done in a situation of a hate crime?

Stiffer penalties seems to be the only way?

Dandelion said...

In reference to equality one must not address racism alone. Racism is only one issue regarding equality in the human experience. Equality has to do with power. In the human experience I have found that people want to belong to certain comfortable groups and exclude other because of the power that group offers for its members. Face it folks the sooner we teach our children to accept others as they are and encourage the success of each other as well as help each other in need then positive change will occur. Also turn off the envy on tv. It will go a long way toward acceptance of all people. You can't legislate caring, you can only educate its benefits.

Anonymous said...

"You're either part of the problem or part of the solution" (Dr. Phil)

Anonymous said...

I think our governments (municipal, provincial, federal) need to do more to educate the population that people are people, regardless of their culture. One way that I think that this could be done is for the
government to sponsor television commercials (mass visual media) that depict individuals of different cultures participating in 'Canadian' activities. For example, show girls wearing hijabs playing soccer. There is nothing more frustrating than hearing news stories of girls being forbidden to play soccer because they wear hijabs. The soccer authorities
mask their racism by making it a 'safety concern.' Soccer players don't pull hair nor do they grab jerseys. How can this be a safety concern? The more we see people of other cultures participating in what we consider to be 'Canadian' events and activities, the more people will accept it. We need a critical mass to accept and embrace that we are all different and that we all belong.

Anonymous said...

How can you like the feeling of hatred in your blood?
What is it you're concealing underneath that hood?
Whether it's religion or the color of the skin,
No matter what the reason, can't you see that your hatred is a sin?
And I am not deceived by the prayers I hear you pray
And I can't help believe that you'll not escape the Judgement Day."

--from "Hand Me Down Hate" by Raspberry Jam,

Anonymous said...

I am not a racist in anyway shape or form, I personally accept people for who they are regardless of race and I am very happy for that. I was given a chance to learn about all cultures at a young age which has helped me grow into the person I am today. You’re a lucky person if you learn at a young age and/or are exposed to different cultures from day 1.

Anonymous said...

I think the biggest thing the world needs is education at a young age!!