Blog: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: A Reflection on History and Our Present

By Kalkidan Tafesse, ESPC Volunteer
Kalkidan Tafesse is originally from Ethiopia but grew up around the world and now calls Edmonton home. Kalkidan studied sociology with a minor in psychology and works in a non-profit. Most of her writing came from obligatory school papers— which were surprisingly enjoyable! She found her love for writing and believes it sparks change, and is excited to contribute.

March 21, 2025 marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a day recognized by the United Nations to commemorate the tragic Sharpeville Massacre that took place in South Africa in 1960 during apartheid (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, n.d.). This day serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of racism and discrimination, both historically and in our present world.

For context, apartheid in South Africa was a legally enforced system of racial segregation that oppressed the country’s Black majority while preserving the economic and political power of the white minority. Under apartheid, Black South Africans, as well as mixed-race (Coloured) and Indian/Asian communities, were all segregated into different living areas, denied basic rights, and restricted in their movements (South African History Online, n.d.). Coloured and Indian/Asian individuals faced segregation and discrimination but did not have the same laws imposed on them. Black South Africans were forced to carry passbooks, which functioned as internal passports, regulating where they could work and live. These restrictions made it difficult to find stable employment and led to systemic exploitation (McRae, 2019).

Although Black South Africans made up nearly 80% of the population, white authorities controlled the country’s wealth, land, and governance (McRae, 2019). Frustrated by these injustices, on March 21, 1960, thousands of peaceful protesters came down to the local police station in the township of Sharpeville to protest apartheid laws, including passbooks. The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) organized the demonstration to be nonviolent, with music playing in the background designed to increase the crowds. However, tensions escalated when increasing numbers of heavily armed police officers arrived, accompanied by military vehicles and even jets overhead (McRae, 2019).

Without warning, police opened fire on the unarmed crowd, killing 69 people and injuring 180 more (McRae, 2019). Over 700 bullets were fired, and even the wounded were later arrested in hospitals after being given some time to recover. Following the massacre, leaders such as Nelson Mandela and others within the African National Congress (ANC) responded with the symbolic burning of passbooks, and 30,000 mass protesters took to Cape Town (Hawkins, n.d.). This caught international attention and prompted a response—the United Nations condemned apartheid as a violation of human rights, marking the first time it had been formally addressed at this level. In 1966, the UN officially declared March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, n.d.).

While apartheid was unique in its legal enforcement, it was heavily influenced by colonial policies in other parts of the world, including Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples. South African officials studied policies such as Canada’s reserve system, which confined Indigenous communities to designated lands while limiting their rights and autonomy (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, n.d.). The passbook system in South Africa was very similar to Canada’s past pass laws, which restricted Indigenous mobility and forced them to obtain government permission to leave their reserves. Additionally, residential schools in Canada, which sought to erase Indigenous identities served as a model for systems of cultural oppression worldwide (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, n.d.).

These parallels are a sobering reminder that systemic racism has shaped many nations, including Canada. Alberta has its own history of racial discrimination that must be acknowledged. Here in Alberta, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an important day to reflect on our own history of racial discrimination and the progress we continue to make.

• Indigenous Discrimination: Indigenous peoples were forcibly relocated to reserves and subjected to residential schools, which aimed to erase their cultures and identities. The intergenerational trauma from these policies still impacts Indigenous communities today. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the growing Land Back movement seek to address these injustices (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, n.d.).
• Black Immigration Barriers: In the early 1900s, Black settlers from the United States faced racist immigration policies designed to discourage them from coming to Canada. Even those who successfully settled here encountered discrimination in employment and housing (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2022).
• Discrimination in Employment & Housing: Black railway porters were paid unfair wages and often given the lowest-ranking jobs. Both Black and Chinese Canadian communities faced barriers to homeownership due to racist housing policies (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2022).

While racism has not been eradicated, Alberta has taken steps toward inclusion and justice:

• Legal Progress: Alberta made steps toward change with the Alberta Bill of Rights (1946) and the Fair Employment Practices Act (1955), which aimed to prohibit racial discrimination in hiring and housing (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2022).
• Anti-racism Education and Funding: In 2020, Alberta introduced grants for students from racialized communities facing socioeconomic barriers and invested in anti-racism education initiatives.
• Violet King’s Legacy: Alberta played a key role in Canada’s civil rights movement through figures like Violet King, who became Canada’s first Black female lawyer and the first Black person to be called to the bar in Alberta (Ruck, 2023).
• Community Conversations: Edmonton and Calgary mark this day by encouraging discussions on racial inclusion, both locally and globally.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is not just about remembering history, it’s about continuing to work toward racial justice in our communities. The courage shown by those who fought against apartheid, as well as those who challenged racism in Alberta and Canada, should inspire us to lead with unity and action. There is still work to be done, but by recognizing past injustices and committing to meaningful change, we move closer to a future free from racial discrimination.

References

McRae, M. (2019, March 19). The Sharpeville massacre. Canadian Museum for Human Rights. https://humanrights.ca/story/sharpeville-massacre

“South African history and heritage are extensively documented on the South African History Online website (https://www.sahistory.org.za/).”

Hawkins, S. (n.d.). [Review of the book Sharpeville: An apartheid massacre and its consequences, by T. Lodge]. Focus, 65, 85–87.

https://hsf.org.za/publications/focus/focus-65/14.%20S_Hawkins%20-%20Sharpeville%20Re view.pdf

Ruck, L. (2023, October 18). Violet King. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/violet-king

“The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation provides access to various reports on Indigenous history and reconciliation efforts (https://nctr.ca/records/reports/).”

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. (2022). Racism and discrimination in the context of migrant workers in Canada: A review of the literature (Section 2). Government of Canada.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/reports-statistics/researc h/racism-discrimination-migrant-workers-canada-evidence-literature.html#s2

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.). 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. United Nations.

https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cerd/60th-anniversary-international-convention-elimin ation-all-forms-racial-discrimination