Organizations supporting the Black community and racial justice in Canada
June 03, 2020
4 min read
Here is a shortlist of actions you can take and charities you can support today as a step towards countering racism and racial inequity.
Protests across the United States, Canada, and the world have erupted following the brutal death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody. This collective action can serve as a reminder that no country is immune to racism. Harmful discrimination is a global issue, it affects us as Canadians, and is a part of our shared history.
You may be asking yourself what you can do in response.
Our philosophy at Charitable Impact has always been that we all have something to give, and this issue is no different. We want to help empower donors to create the change they want to see in the world.
We can all do something to ally ourselves with the fight for racial equality, and the responsibility lies especially on people who are not of colour. As former US First Lady Michelle Obama said: “Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of colour to deal with it.”
Each one of us can do more to address and redress the forces of discrimination, to learn more from the diverse voices within and outside of our own communities, and to stamp out hatred and divisiveness based on race, religion, or culture.
To alight productive thinking, we have compiled a shortlist of ideas (pulled from sources online). There are many more of these lists available to explore, if you are interested.
What can you do
1. Support Black-owned businesses and black-led organizations: If you are able to give charitably today, listed below is a collection of organizations that you can consider. We have focused the list to charities working for the Black community in Canada. There are of course many more organizations and charities across the country focused on connecting or amplifying the voices from different cultures.
2. Create a space where you can discuss what is happening: Allow yourself to be vulnerable and to broach uncomfortable topics to question your own long-standing beliefs or views.
3. Reach out to your friends and ask them what is one thing they are doing to address racial bias: Encourage friends and family members to take one concrete action towards better understanding the issue of racism.
4. Read books and movies that challenge stereotypes or simply educate you on the experiences of people of colour: Learn from others and share these learnings with your friends and family. Read books to your children that teach lessons of tolerance and the histories and experiences of cultures other than your own family’s.
Organizations to support
Human Rights
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
Canadian Race Relations Foundation
Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Business
The Black Business and Professional Association
Health equity and health care
Alliance for Healthier Communities
Youth and education
Black Academic Scholarship Fund
The Black Educators Association