Surrey, B.C. – It’s been said that race is “man’s most dangerous myth,” and racism “the foulest invention by man.”
The work and statements of Ashley Montagu and Kwame Nkrumah, respectively, have sparked important global discussions about race and racism.
And on March 25, Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) will carry on the conversation with a symposium in honour of the United Nation’s Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The event will tackle issues of race and racism with two discussions paneled by illustrious guest speakers. Panelists include Daniel Tseghay, a Vancouver-based activist and writer, and Harsha Walia, a social justice activist and co-founder of No One is Illegal’s Vancouver chapter. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Ali Abdi, head of the Department of Educational Studies at UBC.
“It’s our aim to highlight the pernicious, global effects of racial discrimination, as well as the evolving nature of racism in the 21st century. The symposium seeks to link participants to the global struggle against all forms of racism,” explains Dr. Charles Quist-Adade, event organizer and faculty member with KPU’s Department of Sociology.
“We will honour victims of racial discrimination and genocide, from the transatlantic slave trade to apartheid, and from anti-Semitism to Zionism. We will also celebrate anti-racist activists both past and present who have spent their lives in the trenches of the war against racism,” he said.
The symposium is the last event of the Black History Month and Elimination of Racial Discrimination Series (BHERDS) launched at KPU earlier this year. BHERDS ran events throughout February to mark Black History Month, including a film fest and a confab and cultural show, which featured former Black Panther Party Chairperson Elaine Brown as keynote speaker.
Dr. Quist-Adade says the final event will provide a platform to educate participants about the stand against racial discrimination globally. “The so-called post-racial world is a dangerous myth,” he says, one event speakers will seek to expose.
Admission to the symposium is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Dr. Charles Quist-Adade at 778.240.8636 and charles.quist-adade@kpu.ca.
THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN A “POST-RACIAL WORLD”
Wednesday, March 25 from 4-7 p.m.
Fir Building room 128, KPU Surrey (12666 72 Ave.)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts, science, design, health, trades and technology, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 124 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
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