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Recognizing and Challenging Racism in Canada: Confronting our Colonial Past

This chapter explores the history of racism in Canada, the ongoing oppression of indigenous peoples, and the race-based inequalities that persist in society. It argues that tackling racism requires acknowledging our colonial past and addressing systemic discrimination.

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Recognizing and Challenging Racism in Canada: Confronting our Colonial Past

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  1. “Dealing with racism in Canada demands that we recognize our colonial past, that we come to terms with the historic and violent oppression of aboriginal peoples, and that we talk about the race-based inequalities that pervade nearly every sphere of society. Racism is a messy matter, and if we are really interested in challenging it, we can’t afford to just keep trying to tidy things up.” -Andil Gosine (Toronto Star, 21 March, 1999) Chapter 3: OCTOBER 5, 2006 PRESENTED BY: SAVIKA SINGH & NIMASHA MATHAWATHAGE PREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION, RACISM

  2. FRAMING THE PROBLEM • From afar, Canada looks like a paragon of racial tranquility • Racism in Canada is thought to be relatively muted, and relegated to the dustbins of history. • Laws are in places that not only prohibit racism and discrimination, but also punish those who flout Canada’s multicultural idea • The UN has repeatedly ranked Canada as a premier place to live

  3. FRAMING THE PROBLEM • However, Canada was always subtly racist (Chinese, German, Ukraine internment) • Critics charge that racism is alive and well in Canada • Its worst effects are camouflaged by a Telflon veneer of politeness, denial, and good luck

  4. Racism defined… • Racism as a definition is ever-changing & multidimensional • The multidimensionality of racism appears to sort itself out into several categories of definitions: Definition of Race are expressed in terms of: • BIOLOGY OR RACE -- Who people are • IDEOLOGY -- What they believe • CULTURE -- What they do • POWER -- Where they standing the broader scheme of thing ** These distinctions are analytically useful for conceptual purposes, in reality however, they are interrelated. **

  5. Racism is defined as: those ideas and ideals (“ideology”) that assert normalcy or superiority of one social group over another, together the institutionalized power to put these beliefs into practice in a way that has the intent or effect of demeaning those in a devalued category. • Racism is ultimately based on patterns of power involving relations of dominance, control, and exploitation. • Those in positions of power are able to invoke a doctrine of dominant superiority to enforce social control over those deemed inferior in the competitive struggle for scarce resources.

  6. Racism constitutes of Prejudice and Discrimination: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Prejudice; being negative and unconscious and preconceived notions about others • Ethnocentrism; • characterized by or based on the attitude that one's own group is superior to other • What is true to your group is true to other groups as well • Discrimination: process by which prejudgments are put into practice • Harassment; any unwanted/unwelcome actions/attention

  7. FACES OF RACISM • Hate • Polite • Institutional Racism • Systematic • Systemic • Ideological

  8. STOP YOUNG BLACK MEN …AT “RANDOM” Councillor: Michael Thompson Police Should Be Allowed To Target Young Black Men??

  9. IS CANADA A RACIST SOCIETY?

  10. Racist Society • A society that officially and routinely condones a hatred toward others • It systematically oppresses others through denial, exclusion, or exploitation the basis of race or ethnicity. • Discrimination toward others is formally institutionalized as a basis for defining who gets what • Formal mechanisms do not exist to prevent or deal with the outbreak of racist incidents at individual or institutional levels

  11. CANADA • Officially prohibits racism and racial discrimination at policy and statutory levels • Tolerates differences as a motivation core and legally protected goal, encourages freedom of expression and dissent, respects minorities, has an independent judiciary, and holds the government accountable for upholding multicultural principle. • Human Rights Legislation • Criminal codes against racial hatred • Sentencing procedures that severely punish hate crimes

  12. Funny Racism ??

  13. Discussion: • Is racism increasing across Canada, or are Canadians becoming more aware or racism? • Do Whites tend to “underestimate racism” while minorities “overstate racism”? • Can Canada be divided into two camps of racist and non-racists, or is the potential for racism within each of us?

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