As Edmonton celebrates Black History Month, the city seeks input from its Black communities on its anti-Black racism action plan. To do this, Edmonton will be hosting three engagement sessions.
Edmonton’s anti-Black racism plan was announced on August 29, 2022. The project seeks to target racism in Edmonton and create “safe spaces that welcome the Black communities in Edmonton.”
Through this action plan, Edmonton created an anti-racism committee and a broad anti-racism strategy targetting institutional racism.
Institutional racism, also known as systemic racism, is when the rules and laws of society make it harder for certain racial groups to be treated equally.
A prominent example of institutional racism is racial profiling, where law enforcement or businesses treat people of specific racial backgrounds differently.
“We know that racism is a reality for many, many Edmontonians, including people of African descent, and we have seen a number of attacks against black Muslim women,” Edmonton’s mayor Amarjeet Sohi told CTV News Edmonton.
In addition to tackling institutional racism, Edmonton provides funding for organizations that empower and encourage a culture of equality. For example, in February 2022, the city put $2 million towards anti-racism work in the city.
But Edmonton knows its anti-racism strategy isn’t perfect. There’s room for improvement, and the city is now asking for feedback from its Black communities.
“These diverse and valuable perspectives are essential to developing the plan, and you are encouraged to attend and engage in an upcoming session to ensure your voices and experiences are heard,” wrote the City of Edmonton.
Edmonton’s three engagement sessions will be hosted on the following dates:
- Hosted session: Wednesday, February 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Alumni Room at Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre
- Drop-in session with limited spots: Friday, February 17, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., Heritage Room at City Hall
- A hosted session with limited spots: Saturday, February 18, from 1 to 2 p.m., Heritage Room at City Hall
For those who can’t attend the sessions in person, there is a ten-question online survey. Feedback can also be given by emailing edmontonabr@gmail.com or calling 780-496-8806.
At the end of the day, racism of any kind makes about as much sense as ketchup on waffles. The colour of someone’s skin doesn’t matter; everyone deserves equal opportunities.
