Canada has a long and dark history when it comes to racial violence. From the now world-famous residential schools to the recent racist rant from a woman in a Mississauga doctor’s clinic, Canada is rich with a history of racism and hate. Now, that's not to completely undermine the enormous strides we've taken together over the past century and a half to eventually arrive at our fairly inclusive modern society.
But not everything is as it should be. We've still got work to do.
While I could write several articles about the mistreatment of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada, I will only mention them here in passing. It still warrants mentioning; it's a serious issue that I mean to document in greater detail, and it's worth mentioning that Canada has many problems, just like America does. In fact, we should go further and highlight that we have different, unique problems to reflect our unique history and our unique struggles. Even after the abolition of slavery, segregation and hatred remained a problem for a long time. Some claim that even today, there exist pockets of disgusting white supremacy within Canada, although I tend to doubt the full validity of these claims. There will always be people who hate, but by and large I believe that Canada has rid itself of the shackles of intense racism.
There are records of slavery in Canada from as early as the 17th century. There is also some evidence which shows that different Aboriginal tribes practiced slavery long before that. The vast majority of Canadian slaves under British rule were Aboriginal natives, but the United Empire Loyalists brought some black slaves with them after leaving the United States. (Look up the tale of Marie-Joseph Angélique for a good laugh about burning down slave owner houses. Ahh... Good times.)
Canada didn't tolerate slavery for very long, however. Many decades before the United States of America would write their 13th Amendment, Canadians had worked tirelessly to free thousands of slaves. In 1793 the Act Against Slavery made it illegal to bring slaves into the colony while emancipating those already held in bondage. The Slavery Abolition Act later abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. (Remember, Canada did not become a sovereign nation until 1867.) Many posit that slavery officially ended in Canada in 1834. Prior to this, however, courts had, to varying degrees, rendered slavery null or unenforceable: for example, in Lower Canada after court decisions in the late 1790s, the "slave could not be compelled to serve longer than he would, and ... might leave his master at will." Which essentially ended the servitude, should the slave desire such a thing.
So yes, Canada had some pretty ugly stuff going on, just like many other countries in The West. And the last residential school in Canada only closed down in 1996. That's still a fresh wound for many.
Today however, I want to talk about the University of Toronto in 2017. You see, it's the current year, so a normal graduation ceremony just won't do. In Canada, for our 150th Birthday, we need to do more. It's not enough to just hold a normal ceremony, with all Canadians standing shoulder to shoulder, Canadians of every colour and creed, united by a commonly held sense of national identity and our love of freedom. We have to do more. To go further. To reach for the stars and dream of a better world. A world in which we display our inclusive culture...
...with a blacks-only graduation ceremony. Yes, you read that correctly.
In 2017, we're about to have a black students only segregated graduation event. Canada's largest university claims they want the event to acknowledge the "barriers" that exist for people of colour pursuing academia. Barriers. At a publicly funded university, with the financial and administrative support from the school itself.
In one of the freest, most inclusive countries on the planet.
There's nothing normal about this. I won't write in fluffy euphemisms here. One of the co-organizers Jessica Kirk says the event, believed to be the first of its kind in Canada. Actually, it's not. It harkens back to the era of racial segregation we hold in deep shame in this nation. It harkens to the age of racial segregation and separation. It's recognition of skin colour as a defining attribute of a person. About 80 black graduates will gather to celebrate the accomplishment of overcoming systemic barriers unique to racialized groups seeking higher education, in a country where none of those problems exist.
Ms. Kirk also says black students face "subtle racism" in the classroom, and says they lack black faculty members to offer additional guidance. What subtle racism is, we may never know. As if non-black faculty members are somehow insufficient as human beings. As if somehow only a faculty member with black skin could possibly offer guidance or education to a student with black skin. As if somehow a non-black individual just can't understand the mind of their black counterparts. As if somehow RACE and SKIN COLOUR can determine the contents of one's mind, or the quality of their character, or their ability to empathize.
Now that... THAT is real racism. That is pointless divisiveness and racial judgement.
Canada doesn't need special events to highlight our differences and celebrate systemic racial segregation. On our 150th Birthday, Canada should look to uphold the secular and non-racial attributes that unite and inspire us all to protect and love this country. The Rule of Law, individual freedom, freedom of worship, speech and movement. Freedom of trade between the provinces and the freedom (though rapidly vanishing) to build a successful business from nothing but the wealth of the nation and your own sweat.
This is a problem plaguing many places in the world today. The belief that culture springs up from genetics, instead of being born by environmental inputs.
I won't pretend not to be shocked. I am horrified.
Canada doesn't need to put black people up on a pedestal and shout, "Look! They're different and need their own ceremony!" This is precisely the opposite of what we've been fighting for in this country for over a century. Canada should remain an inclusive society where men and women are judged by their character, their fortitude, and their passions. Not by their racial heritage.
Canada should remain a country which celebrates freedom, virtue, and hard work.
Judge Character, not skin colour.