Racial Justice Educator & Lawyer
Anthony N. Morgan is the Manager of the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Unit. CABR is responsible for the implementation of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism. Additionally, Anthony maintains a separate practice of providing various services, including human rights education, legal research, analysis and drafting support. Through his work, Anthony is able to build on more than a decade of developing an expertise in leveraging human rights law to address expressions of anti-Black racism.
Prior to joining the City of Toronto, Anthony worked as an Associate at Falconers LLP, a leading human rights law firm. The firm specializes in civil, constitutional and criminal litigation, which a particular focus on state accountability. Before joining private practice, Anthony worked as a legal aid lawyer, serving as the Policy & Research Lawyer at the African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC). There, his role was exclusively devoted to engaging in legal, policy and social advocacy and organizing against systemic anti-Black racism for the purpose of protecting and promoting the rights and interests of African Canadians across Ontario.
In his career, Anthony has advocated on matters related to anti-Black racism in Canada at various levels of court. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada and before two United Nations human rights committees in Geneva, Switzerland. His work resulted in his nomination for Canada’s Top 25 Influential Lawyers by Candian Lawyer Magazine in 2016 and 2017.
Anthony is a frequent legal, social and public affairs thought leader and commentator on issues concerning race and racism, critical multiculturalism and critical race theory in Canada. His writing and commentary on these issues have been featured on all of Canada’s major broadcast networks, including CBC, CTV and Global, as well as in the Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Policy Options, Ricochet, Huffington Post Canada, and other major newspapers and broadcast outlets, including CNN.
He holds an LL.B. and B.C.L. from McGill University, Faculty of Law, and a Hons. B.A. from the University of Toronto in Ethics, Society & Law. Anthony is currently pursuing a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University. His research will focus on how to strategically leverage international human rights laws and principles to advance racial justice through law, policies and organizational practices in Canada.
Anthony was nominated for Canada’s Top 25 Influential Lawyers by Candian Lawyer Magazine in 2016 and 2017.
TOPICS
Story-telling for Social Change
The proliferation of access to information through developments in technology has expanded the breadth of social justice causes being championed in society. Every day there’s a new campaign, petition, or movement. How do you make your mission stand out? How do you get your issue into the public domain so you get not only the public talking, but also get your issue to be considered by key stakeholders and decision-makers? This talk will tell you how.
Beyond equity, diversity and Inclusion
This talk focuses on effectively using an anti-oppressive human rights approach to advancing organizational change. This talk will assist individuals in institutions to take EDI to the next level by leveraging norms, principles and standards derived from domestic and international human rights law, policy and practice.
Ethical Ambition
Doing well, while still doing good: In 2002, the late law professor and pioneer of critical race theory, Derrick Bell, published a book entitled Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth. In this book, Professor Bell uses his personal and professional journey as a successful racial justice lawyer and professor to provide illuminating reflections on how legally trained individuals can pursue professional success without compromising their core values, personal integrity or commitment to working to achieve a more socially equitable world. Professor Bell identified the tenets of Ethical Ambition as a passion; courage and risk-taking; faith; relationships; inspiration; and, humility. By the end of this talk, individuals will learn to
1. Critically reflect on and apply the tenets of ethical ambition to their own personal journeys and professional careers;
2. Recognize and breakdown dynamics of individual social privilege;
3. Identify barriers to racial equity in business, media and society.
Allyship for social change in a complex world
You want to be an ally to a community that has experienced historical disadvantage but you don’t know where to start? What if you say the wrong thing? What if you do something that gets misunderstood, leading to a negative impact despite your positive intentions? How do I avoid over-centring myself when my aim is to help others? This talk will walk through how to be an effective ally to racialized individuals in a complex and multicultural world.
Unpacking Racism, Unlocking Change
Many have an overly simplified understanding of what racism is and isn’t. In this talk, internationally recognized anti-racism advocate, Anthony Morgan, will use the analytical framework of critical race theory to discuss the three dominant levels of racism, how they manifest, and how to prevent and address them for the purpose of protecting and promoting anti-racism within your organization.
