The roots of racial prejudice run deep, but when an ugly incident recently cropped up in Ontario, a local social club didn’t just nip it the bud, they planted seeds of hope in its place.
Jamaican immigrants Maurice (Mo) Ellis and his wife Caroline Leslie-Ellis settled in Canada with their daughter determined to make the most of their adopted homeland. Ellis, who was working two jobs to support his family and help pay his wife’s college tuition, joined Dad Club London to network and feel more closely connected to his new community.
“Like many other local fathers, he found us on our Facebook group, came out to an event, and fell in love with what we do,” club member Ryan Blake told GNN. Blake also noted the club is proud of its diverse membership. “[Mo] isn’t the first Black dad in the club. We have members from all races and backgrounds, including gay dads.”
After Dad Club London founder and president, Jeremy McCall, posted a Black Lives Matter message on the group’s Facebook page, Ellis was touched and reached out in gratitude. He told Jeremy that he’d been the target of racial slurs while working a shift at his second job. “It’s not just me that it happens to,” Ellis was quoted as saying in The London Free Press. “If you’re not mentally strong it can take a toll.”
Galvanized by a “not in my town” attitude, rather than simply offering sympathy, McCall was energized to take action. He organized a secret fundraiser to show Ellis and his family how much the community supported them.
Contributions came in from the local police union, 70 families, and numerous businesses. The group was able to raise nearly $7,000, and McCall arranged a get-together last month to surprise Mo. “I thought it was a Dad Club meeting,” his wife exclaimed.
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In a hushed parking lot, with members standing six feet apart, Ryan’s neighbor Brent Lively recorded the touching presentation—as tears began streaming down faces both black and white.
First, their daughter Amara was given a gift—the biggest LEGO set the club could find, and then Mo was given a prepaid Mastercard to help with family living expenses. Finally, smiles turned to disbelief when Caroline unfolded the check for her college tuition.
“What happened to you doesn’t represent this community,” McCall said in a heartfelt speech during the ceremony. “We don’t stand for that. When you said, ‘I guess that’s the way the world is,’ it broke our hearts because it can’t be that way, and we won’t let it . . . We, together, stand as a community against racism.”
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We salute Dad Club London for taking a stand and showing us all how to make a difference.
WATCH the beautiful video below…
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If you witness a racist incident at your place of work, do something, or you are in complicity. Evil triumphs because the good man does nothing.
Yes, you are so right, joestuffsda!
Character has nothing to do with race. Good people are everywhere. Bless this young family and their new friends!