OPIRG Peterborough and BLM Nogojiwanong are hosting Dr. Wilburn Hayden, PhD Professor Emeritus and Senior Scholar at the School of Social Work at York University, to discuss the ‘Omission and Exclusion of Black People in Canada’s Past: Canadian Enslavement and Participation in the Trans-Atlantic Black Slave Trade.’
The talk is an examination of the ethos which sees Canada as a place where racial injustice, inequality and discrimination were at most limited and outside of the Canadian mainstream. Canadian historical records documenting the early arrival of Blacks, and White responses to their arrival reveal a different story. Contemporary Canadian racism continues to negatively affect opportunities for Blacks and their quality of life. The interplay of the recorded history and contemporary denials are seen as key elements for challenging the Canadian Ethos. This Ethos is a factor in creating barriers that prevent Black and White Canadians from recognizing the need for change.
Dr. Wilburn Hayden has been a university professor and social worker since 1973. He teaches and writes from critical race and anti-oppression perspectives. Having grown up in the segregated southern USA and first arriving in Canada in 1975, he knows of the racial injustice struggle in the USA and Canada firsthand. His social work practice experiences include being the chief social worker in a state prison, organizing within disadvantaged communities, directing a human services agency, and involvement in political campaigns in North America.