I used to be surprised when people used to get surprised at the news that there's racism in Canada; the country which thinks it is better than US in regards to such form of discrimination & hatred.
But I don't get surprised at them, because I already know those people, who are the majority of the population, are living under a rock, when it comes to their social knowledge. They may know a lot about their profession, politics, sports etc., but when it comes to know what's going on in their vicinity which is affecting adversely to their fellow human beings, they are completely clueless.
I know there's racism in Canada because I suffer it myself. I know there's racism in Canada because I hear from other people in my community who suffer from it. But most people in our supposedly "diverse" society live in so insularly that they are completely oblivious to these daily facts of life.
Recent riots & violence in US in regards to racism didn't come out of nowhere, but they were the result of years & decades of racism by the American "white" majority. Since, African-Americans are that many more in population in US than any other race, racism affects them with that much force.
In Canada, the adverse effects of racism are few but intense. Reason being that a large majority of some 35 million of Canadians are of one race, & other races make a small portion of the whole population. On top of that, many stories of racism never surface, so we never come to hear the full extent of racism in our society.
As interim president of ONABSE says in the article below that "racism is still deeply ingrained in society."
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Many black teachers across Ontario still face racism on the job, according to a new study of educators, half of whom said they believe being black has hurt their chance of promotion. Some told of hearing the ‘N’ word used in the staff room & being mistaken for a trespasser.
“I had a supply teacher tell me I am not allowed to park my car in staff parking,” said one of the 148 black educators across 12 Ontario school boards surveyed for a report ... . “The ‘N’ word was used in casual conversation in our staff room,” said another. “I was introduced as ‘home girl’ to a student teacher.”
The 63-page report, The Voices of Ontario Black Educators, prepared for the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE), calls for Ontario to enact tough employment equity legislation, provide training against anti-black bias, set targets for promoting teachers of colour & cluster black teachers in particular in schools where there are high numbers of black students.
“We’re disappointed, but not surprised at the findings — racism is still deeply ingrained in society,” said Warren Salmon, interim president of ONABSE, which commissioned the report because of concerns expressed by its members.
Of the black teachers, principals & vice-principals surveyed, one-third said they believe they have been passed over for advancement because they are black. Some 27% said racial discrimination by colleagues affects their day-to-day work life & 51% said they believe anti-black bias at their school board affects who gets promoted.
Equity consultant Tana Turner of Turner Consultants conducted the survey, & called for school boards to “set equity goals & timetables — not just have an employment equity office which merely measures the numbers of employees …"
Toronto vice-principal Darlene Jones said she has not experienced racism either as a teacher or as vice-principal of Beverley Heights Middle School — “not at all; but I’m not alarmed that it exists. It’s our world; you just have to hope that by changing mindsets, things will change.”
...
The report included numerous anecdotes of “micro-aggressions … the everyday slights, insults & indignities” that imply black teachers don’t belong:
• One was “asked by a principal if I would ever consider straightening my hair.”
• Another was “told I should steer away from too much black history in the class as black history is not important when no black students are present.”
• On arriving at a new job assignment, “colleagues asked if I am a new caretaker.”
• “A colleague was shocked that I was raised by both parents — & expressed it in the staff room.”
Turner noted that in 2011, 26% of Ontarians were “racialized” (visible minorities) — a figure that soars to 72% in Markham, 66% in Brampton, 54% in Mississauga & 49% in Toronto. However, she said the percentage of teachers of colour lags behind the population.
Some 31% of the Toronto District School Board’s staff self-identified as visible minorities in 2012. At the University of Toronto’s faculty of education, 46% of current students self-identified as being part of a visible minority.
The ONABSE report calls for more rigorous tracking of the diversity of teachers in Ontario schools.
But I don't get surprised at them, because I already know those people, who are the majority of the population, are living under a rock, when it comes to their social knowledge. They may know a lot about their profession, politics, sports etc., but when it comes to know what's going on in their vicinity which is affecting adversely to their fellow human beings, they are completely clueless.
I know there's racism in Canada because I suffer it myself. I know there's racism in Canada because I hear from other people in my community who suffer from it. But most people in our supposedly "diverse" society live in so insularly that they are completely oblivious to these daily facts of life.
Recent riots & violence in US in regards to racism didn't come out of nowhere, but they were the result of years & decades of racism by the American "white" majority. Since, African-Americans are that many more in population in US than any other race, racism affects them with that much force.
In Canada, the adverse effects of racism are few but intense. Reason being that a large majority of some 35 million of Canadians are of one race, & other races make a small portion of the whole population. On top of that, many stories of racism never surface, so we never come to hear the full extent of racism in our society.
As interim president of ONABSE says in the article below that "racism is still deeply ingrained in society."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many black teachers across Ontario still face racism on the job, according to a new study of educators, half of whom said they believe being black has hurt their chance of promotion. Some told of hearing the ‘N’ word used in the staff room & being mistaken for a trespasser.
“I had a supply teacher tell me I am not allowed to park my car in staff parking,” said one of the 148 black educators across 12 Ontario school boards surveyed for a report ... . “The ‘N’ word was used in casual conversation in our staff room,” said another. “I was introduced as ‘home girl’ to a student teacher.”
The 63-page report, The Voices of Ontario Black Educators, prepared for the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE), calls for Ontario to enact tough employment equity legislation, provide training against anti-black bias, set targets for promoting teachers of colour & cluster black teachers in particular in schools where there are high numbers of black students.
“We’re disappointed, but not surprised at the findings — racism is still deeply ingrained in society,” said Warren Salmon, interim president of ONABSE, which commissioned the report because of concerns expressed by its members.
Of the black teachers, principals & vice-principals surveyed, one-third said they believe they have been passed over for advancement because they are black. Some 27% said racial discrimination by colleagues affects their day-to-day work life & 51% said they believe anti-black bias at their school board affects who gets promoted.
Equity consultant Tana Turner of Turner Consultants conducted the survey, & called for school boards to “set equity goals & timetables — not just have an employment equity office which merely measures the numbers of employees …"
Toronto vice-principal Darlene Jones said she has not experienced racism either as a teacher or as vice-principal of Beverley Heights Middle School — “not at all; but I’m not alarmed that it exists. It’s our world; you just have to hope that by changing mindsets, things will change.”
...
The report included numerous anecdotes of “micro-aggressions … the everyday slights, insults & indignities” that imply black teachers don’t belong:
• One was “asked by a principal if I would ever consider straightening my hair.”
• Another was “told I should steer away from too much black history in the class as black history is not important when no black students are present.”
• On arriving at a new job assignment, “colleagues asked if I am a new caretaker.”
• “A colleague was shocked that I was raised by both parents — & expressed it in the staff room.”
Turner noted that in 2011, 26% of Ontarians were “racialized” (visible minorities) — a figure that soars to 72% in Markham, 66% in Brampton, 54% in Mississauga & 49% in Toronto. However, she said the percentage of teachers of colour lags behind the population.
Some 31% of the Toronto District School Board’s staff self-identified as visible minorities in 2012. At the University of Toronto’s faculty of education, 46% of current students self-identified as being part of a visible minority.
The ONABSE report calls for more rigorous tracking of the diversity of teachers in Ontario schools.
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