Unmasking DEI

The ebook edition of this title is Open Access and freely available to read online.

Understanding and dismantling the deep-rooted structures of racism is essential for creating truly equitable societies. In recent years, initiatives aimed at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and social justice have become more prevalent than ever. However, a critical issue persists: these efforts often fail to comprehensively address and confront anti-Black racism, particularly within the Black Atlantic region.

Unmasking DEI: New Frameworks for Confronting Anti-Black Racism in the Black Atlantic by Christopher Stuart Taylor offers an incisive exploration of how historical and contemporary DEI and social justice initiatives have fallen short in tackling anti-Black racism. Drawing on extensive research and professional experience as a DEI practitioner, Taylor employs a critical race theoretical lens to reveal how these movements often perpetuate exclusion within inherently inequitable systems. Focusing particularly on Canada, the study dissects the myths surrounding national narratives like the Underground Railroad and exposes the exclusionary immigration policies that have historically marginalized Black individuals. By integrating Black Studies methodologies and non-Eurocentric frameworks, this volume challenges dominant scholarly perspectives and provides alternative epistemological models aimed at disrupting the status quo of colonial structures.

This work is an invaluable resource for scholars, students, public policy professionals, and general readers interested in the intersections of DEI, social justice, and anti-Black racism. It offers practical insights and theoretical foundations for those committed to developing more effective and genuinely inclusive policies.

Christopher Stuart Taylor is the Associate Vice-President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (EDI-R) at the University of Waterloo, Canada. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of History. He completed his PhD at Western University (Canada) in History and Migration & Ethnic Relations (MER). Dr. Taylor is a proud founding member of the University of Waterloo’s Black Faculty Collective (BFC).