Vanmala Subramaniam: Before you declare Canada is not a racist country, do your homework

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For decades, activists, scholars and historians have been documenting the deep issues in our fight for racial justice and pushing for change

Rex Murphy, the conservative commentator, former CBC radio host and a 73-year-old white man, is convinced that racism does not exist in this country and that the “vast majority” of Canadians would “never participate in it.”

It is perhaps too obvious to state that someone who has absolutely no lived experience of racism, discrimination, bigotry, who has never been anything other than accepted, who has clearly no interest in really understanding race issues in this country beyond performative platitudes and slogans pushed forward by corporate institutions and the political class, should not be weighing in on the subject of racism.

“We were scared and confused and one wrong move on our part could have led to us being shot,” Drummond wrote in a deeply personal Instagram post this week, recounting his own terrifying and traumatic experience with law enforcement decades ago.

Beyond simply being factually wrong, propagating the notion that Canada is no longer racist is dangerous and damaging because it only serves to reassure white people and white-dominated systems in this country that their work is done, that they can revert back to a state of comfort knowing that their corporate boards are dotted with a token number of visible minorities and their employees are apparently free of racist ideals thanks to rounds of diversity training.

Spend a day in an Ontario criminal court to really understand how systemic racism can devastate lives

 

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Thank you. I can believe that some Canadians are unfamilar with the facts because their privilege cushions their lived experience. I cannot believe a thinking person could read this piece and continue to deny racism exists in Canada. That's on them.

Funny.. it’s like the media wants riots to happen here as well....

This all sound like a competition. And the winner is....

ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz After decades of progressive policies replacing Whites at all levels - GFY.

Maybe you should do some homework. You obviously have no knowledge of Canada.

We could have done much better re. our handling of First Nations issues, but that's largely the domain of the federal government. This one's on you, Justin! You were re-elected. You own it all now. (So put on your superhero mask and get to work. Where's the shoe polish?)

Can't believe you are still platforming Rex Murphy. He should be fired.

Thank you VanmalaS for this response to Rex Murphy's smug, 'no racism in Canada, piece. Feels kind of weird commending the NationalPost, but Subramaniam begins a much better conversation.

Thank you. A must read imo.

You miss RM’s point. Racism exists everywhere and can never be totally eliminated. Rex’s point is “To any fair mind, Canada is a mature, welcoming, open-minded and generous country”. THAT is an accurate statement. Instead you insist on fanning the flames unnecessarily. Shame.

Trudeau wore blackface multiple times and got elected. I don’t think only white people voted for him. Yes, Canada is racist as a culture.

vanmalas interesting article, and interesting way of proving a point! Insinuating Rex Murphy is wrong because he is a 73 year old white man is a clever way of proving to your readers that racism/bigotry is alive and well in Canada.

vanmalas Immensely important subject. Your use of anecdotal evidence really undermines the strength of your arguments. If the goal is to manipulate and deceive, then the use of anecdotes and other logical fallacies are very effective. Use logical arguments and data to EDUCATE.

Rascism is not just a 'white people' thing!

Can someone please define 'racist country' for me? Serious. Different people seem to be using this in different ways and in different degrees.

STOP PLAYING THE RACIST CARD! STOP ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF VICTIMS! STOP CALLING CDNS RACIST, IT MAKES YOU WEAK MINDED! YOU DONT KNOW ME OR MY FAMILY SO YOU HAVE NO JUSTIFICATION PAINTING ALL CDNS WITH A RACIST BRUSH! WHEN WILL YOU CALL FOR PM JUSTIN'S RESIGNATION FOOLISHNESS!

They want more money Who is the foe for them. The white man has to be destroyed in your own home.Sacrifce the owner to take his properties. It is the beginning to take the White Farms is South Africa in Canada land.( way)

CaNaDa Is NoT rAcSisT!!! (scrolls through the white comments)....

”Racism doesn't exist in Canada” is the biggest lie Canadians tell themselves.

Speak for yourself.

I have never judged by skin colour, was raised to judge by character and have had friends of all colours. Why am I being made to feel guilty about things I am not a part of? Not one white family member/friend has a racist bone. This generalization is going way too far.

Largest mass eviction of black, brown children in Canada’s history was in Ottawa 🇨🇦 HERON GATE . As those in WHITE PRIVILEGE turned their backs & SAID NOTHING JustinTrudeau cathmckenna MacLeodLisa etc 🖐🏾🖐🏾💔 . It would be hypocritical to march Friday ottnews photoOppOnly 🖤

Canada is massively racist because it uses immigration to boost the wealth of those who already have (inherited) so much while paying low wages to the immigrants who get shoved away in cheap towers. Quebec also gets some excemptions.

Diversity only works when everyone respect each other. Unfortunately we have a small number of ppl thinking they are above everyone else believing their farts don't stink.

Some are

Of course it's a racist country. We elected blackface.

If white men “should not be weighing in on the subject of racism” because they haven’t lived it should black women be weighing in on white male privilege?

If you're a LPC supporter you might be a racist.

If support Justin Trudeau you might be a racist

Did anyone send the article to Rex Murphy?

THIS is who we should be listening to on this issue, NOT Rex Murphy!!

Canada isn’t a racist country, it’s the greatest in the world! Are there hotbeds of hate that can be found across our country, hate which manifests on a fringe, within all communities? Yes. We’re not perfect, but we should strive to be. When we see injustice, we must act on it.🇨🇦

Any author who starts an article by identifying another person's race as being a relevant part of their critique is, by definition, being racist.

Yeah and as a white Canadian, I'm tired of the victim noises, this is the most immigrant friendly country on earth, go check out the rest of the world. This country accommodates every culture on earth, it's in our law ffs. Systemic racism in Canada doesn't exist.

Media should not stir the pot with an American issue. Sure we have issues but not even close to the mess in the US.

To generalize minorities as being victims of targeted racism is not fair or accurate. The overwhelming majority of arrests and prosecutions are justified. The overwhelming majority of officers deserve our respect & gratitude. The violent response is unacceptable. Facts matter.

Did I detect a bit of ageism to kick off the article?

VanmalaS 'Rex Murphy... a 73-year-old white man'. There's the open bigotry of the shallow hypocrite lecturing everyone about how racist they are.

Well, if Canada wasn't divided before, it sure will be now. Why do those who are 'progressive' always seem to be looking for a way to divide us?

Done

KKK in Canada since 1920:

Individuals of all backgrounds may or may not be racist. Depends on the individual, and perspective. Compared to most of the world Canada is a great example of a community of cultures thriving together. So go make peace not war. It’s good for everyone 🎨

Does that count for anything? Have you weighed the injustices here vs those in other plAces? How does Canada stack up? I’ll be waiting for your balanced answer.

The arrogance. “Do your homework..as if only the aggrieved have thought about this. Or have a right to speak on this issue. Why don’t you do some more homework. How about the millions who have come here over the years. Of all colours, religions etc. Is there any value in that?

3 questions for VanmalaS 1 Can anyone be racist/bigoted, no exceptions? 2 Can anyone be a victim of racism/bigotry, no exceptions? 3 Should you NEVER assume to know ANYONE's life experiences or privilege? If you answered no to any of these, your opinion on racism is worthless.

Nope a country is not racist but people living in a country can be racist.

Nothing white folks hate more than having their racism called out.

Predominantly Canadians are respectful of each other.

To all those sickened by the systemic and horrible racism here. Burdened by the hell this place is. My question is: why don’t you leave? Go somewhere better. It must be better elsewhere.

Compared to what other country? If you find it intolerable you can leave. The rest of us will do our best to get along while you are in your non-racist paradise.

This is identity politics and outright stating other peoples opinions aren't valuable and that laws are applied unjustly because they don't consider experiences and people should be treated specially. Racism is alive. It is this article.

That there are racists in Canada does not imply that Canada is a racist country.

Tell me a country on earth that isn’t racist.... it’s kind of how the borders were drawn!

He did not say that racism does not exist in Canada. As woman of colour why would you be helping Trudeau's agenda? He does not care about the black race ( he thinks we're apes) and his goal is to cause a race riot here in Canada. Why would you believe blackface JT?

When non-whites do something wrong, we are told diversity is our strength. When whites do something wrong, it's racism and xenophobia. Trudeau's Canada, baby. Trudeau's Canada.

How do we rate from a global perspective? What would be a less racist country and why?

A hundred years ago they used class. The modern version will be race. The Communists are revealing themselves. The MSM isn't on your side.

Does Canada have racist pockets? Yes, good chance given all countries do, but those people are generally ignored/chastised by the masses of people who alternatively respect the people around them, regardless of race/creed.

Rex Murphy claims Canada is not racist. I wrote back by blowing his claim to smithreens. I pity our fellow Caucasian Canadians, enjoying a privileged life and political hegemony, who try to whitewash that Canada is a racist country. Please repeat: Canada is racist. Thank you 🙏

More leftist trash fanning flames

Haha haha this is ridiculous. Where did you people grow up? Toronto is not all of Canada.

Why are you posting this?! why fuel a fire and spark hatred with a racism article. This is absurd.

Also why does the commentary of a 73yo not count? No, he hasn't experienced racism first-hand, on that we're agreed, but to say the opinion has no merit, ignoring the decades of experience seeing how Canada has progressed is short sighted.

'See how judges behave, the way they pre-judge black people, or people who can’t speak English, the way they discount poverty, mental health and the trauma of war when sentencing people of colour' - any proof of this?

Wow, shockingly bad reporting! Canada has a massively lower rate of violence and racial violence in comparison to the States, even when you scale our populations. It's fair statement to say we're not a racist country, because we're not.

Word. Let's all move to Africa.

This article is fanning racism.

The vast majority of people who claim that Canada isn’t racist, are white men. Aka those who have never experienced it. Listen, learn react.

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