After decades of helping to support oppression, Canadian universities have become self-proclaimed champions of equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, says Desmond Cole.

In a free public presentation Friday, March 15, entitled “The Many Harms of EDID,” he will explore the ways that EDID obscures racism and oppression, and presumes a consensus for change that does not exist within Canadian universities.

Cole is a Toronto-based journalist, activist, and author. His best-selling 2020 book, The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power, reveals in stark detail the injustices faced by Black Canadians on a daily basis. Drawing on his own experiences, he paints a personal, painful, and comprehensive picture of entrenched, systemic inequality.

Cole’s keynote address, running 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium, CAW Student Centre, will mark the start of EDID Week.

It will follow the EDID Week Fair, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday in the student centre Commons, showcasing campus and community partners in promoting equity. Booths are still available; apply here by March 12.

Find the complete line-up of activities planned for March 15 to 22 on the EDID Week website.