Valerie Williams: Black History, Diversity and Inclusion

It has been said that a continued engagement with history is vital because it helps give context for the present. Black History Manitoba (@bhmwinnipeg #BlackHistoryManitoba) and Black History Month (#BlackHistoryMonth) is an opportunity to celebrate Black History going beyond stories of racism and slavery to spotlight Black achievement. On this episode, Ms. Valerie Williams, the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Rady Faculty of Health Science talks about what it was like to grow up with a father who changed the history and racial landscape of Canada. Valerie’s father was Lee Williams. Lee Williams, an African-Canadian was a tireless champion of human rights. He was the Founder of the Order of the Sleeping Car Porters, the first Black Railway Union in North America.Valerie recalls that her father was dead-fast in his belief that all human beings are equal and that the colour of our skin has no bearing on opportunity. With his numerous years experiencing racial and systemic racism Lee Williams knew that it’s not right that humans are treated so poorly.To recognize the incredible human rights work that Lee Williams did, he was featured in the National Film Board documentary, The Road Taken (1996). Lee Williams also received an honourary Doctorate of Laws from York University.Valerie Williams passionately continues the struggle that her father fought for. Valerie is keenly aware that people with privilege today don’t want, or aren’t willing to give up their privilege. She believes that if they give up their privilege, that they are in effect giving something away to someone else. And once they give something away they will question what it is they are left with.On this episode, listeners will get a sense of Black History and what the future for Black people looks like in our country.Click here for a transcript of this episode.