End of Racism Evident?

In this lifetime, beginning of the end of Racism Evident?

By William Doyle-Marshall

“How long it will take for people to realize we are all human beings?” This question still lingers in the mind of African American musician and peace advocate Daryl Davis following his keynote address recently at the 2013 Gandhi-King Memorial dinner in Hamilton – the peace capital of the world.

   Davis engaged his audience for more than an hour as he took them on a journey of his travels across the United States of America interviewing and meeting with members of the Klu Klux Klan. He was searching for reasons behind the cause for people hating each other due to feelings of superiority and inferiority.

   Jayanthi Parekh, treasurer of the India Canada Society of Hamilton found Davis’ presentation very inspiring and uplifting. “You are an American hero, most unique thinker and the message you brought here today is really remarkable just like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King,” Parekh said.

  Davis’ approach to promoting peace was considered non-violent and non-judgmental coupled with courage and inner strength. “He demonstrated once we understand the enemy, we can resolve the problem more peacefully,” Parekh noted.

                                   Daryl Davis received thank yous 
                                   from Hamiltonians Marnie 
                                  Alexander  and Evelyn Myrie 
                                  following his insightful lecture 
                                  presentation 

   “There is only one race – the human race and we come in all shades and colours and genders,” Davis remarked to the applauding gathering.  While he knows racism will not necessarily end in our life time, the experienced musician told the Hamilton audience he truly believes, in this lifetime they will see the beginning of the end of it. “We are seeing ourselves get more and more mixed – and receptive to change especially with the younger generations so I do think that we are on a good path,” Davis summarized. India Canada Society of Hamilton, the Hamilton Community Foundation and Hamilton Center for Civic Inclusion were among sponsors of the event.

  “Living Gandhi and King Today” was the theme of the lecture at the Hamilton Convention Center. Davis reminded his audience they cannot forget where they came from nor all the hard work that people put out there to try to make societal change. “That’s why we recognize people like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who are no longer with us,” Davis continued.

    It’s very important that young people are taught about Gandhi and King. While they may not have lived during these civil rights leaders’ time they need to know about the sacrifices made and the tools of communication they used to get their message across, Davis added. At the conclusion of the lecture Evelyn Myrie  of the Hamilton Center for Civic Inclusion which invited Davis to lunch said she received a very clear message: people of her community must stop preaching to the converted and get out into the wider world and become truly change agents.

  Members of the Gandhi-King Event Organizing Committee are Ashok Kuman, Khursheed Ahmed, Marlene Dei-Amoah, Sri Gopal Mohanty, Joy Warner, Gail Rappolt, Matthew Green, Christopher Cutler, Gary Warner, Bill De Lisser, Janice Lukas,  Evelyn Myrie, Rama S. Singh, Julia Horton and Sumbul Syed.

March 31, 2013