Desmond Cole
A Hero In Action
Introduction
"I've been stopped by cops on the street 50 times. I'm not a criminal."
Desmond Cole is an African American man, whose parents immigrated to Canada from Sierra Leone in the 1970s. He was born in Red Deer, Alberta, and soon after his birth, his parents moved to Oshawa, Ontario.
Sierra Leone - A Country in West Africa
Red Deer - City in Alberta, Canada
Toronto, Canada
Early Years of Desmond Cole
Background & Challenges
What is Desmond Cole's Job:
Currently, Mr. Desmond Cole works as a writer for local Toronto magazines and an online news reporting site called "The Walrus."
Carding?
To clarify, carding is a process where someone is repeatedly asked to present his or her identification, despite their obvious age being above the required limit. In Mr. Cole's case, carding refers to the police practice of stopping random people on the street and collecting information about them.
Mr. Cole fought against the carding policy because he felt that Toronto citizens of minority groups, especially blacks, were being purposefully targeted by police in random stops for collecting information. He felt this was unfair, unjust, and simply should not be tolerated.
Impact
An Inspiring Quote
After discussing his years living in Toronto, a city that prides itself on multiculturalism, Mr. Cole mentioned how he was carded more than a dozen times, detained and searched on numerous occasions, all of which added to his frustration over the years. Towards the end of his interview with CBC Television, Cole states that "existing in the same space together does not mean that we are respecting one another." This quote really speaks to me, in that it tells me and all readers that it takes more than just getting along to respect each other. It tells me that being truly respectful, means treating each other with genuine care, love, being helpful, and willingly giving when one is in need. If more of the world could understand and follow Mr. Cole’s ideas on respect, maybe, just maybe, this world will be a peaceful place and there will be more love than hatred.
Final Thoughts
Effects of Mr. Desmond Cole's Experience on Society:
Learning about how Mr. Cole was unjustly treated and mistreated by public figure and ordinary folks in society really shows that Toronto is not a free of racial stereotypes as it seems. Cole's negative experience with the police also teach readers that racial discrimination can occur at even the highest levels, even from those whom society places the most trust in. In addition, his experience provides a very poor image of Toronto, a city that is proud to be multi-cultural. Not only that, but Cole's experience also show how racist ordinary people can be.
Why is this Man a Hero?
The heroic quality in Desmond Cole’s courage to tell his story certainly tell readers, especially those that believe that Toronto is a place that does not discriminate, that they should really think twice. There is clearly a lot work to be done in this city in order to eliminate racial injustices when it comes to getting jobs, earning fair wages, building diverse communities, etc. Desmond Cole should be recognized for bringing the truth to life and for educating the public on why change is needed.
Your Thougths
- Do you feel like the things Mr. Cole describes, (being wrongfully stopped, detained, searched, or carded) happens on a regular basis?
- Do you think things will ever change in Toronto, where there will be no form of racism?