Privilege

Privilege

Timeline of Anti-Racism

1970's

1971: Trudeau Introduces Canada's Multicultural Policy.

Points of Privilege

1980's

- When I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.

1982: Constitution Act- helped to bring the rightful place of Aboriginal people in Canadian society into focus.

1986: Employment Equity Act- required employers to engage in proactive employment practices to increase the representation of four designated groups: women, people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, and visible minorities.

1988: Canadian Multiculturalism Act: an act for the preservation and enhancement of multiculturalism in Canada.

- Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.

1990's

- I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to the "person in charge", I will be facing a person of my race.

1991: First Nations Policing Policy initiated to provide First Nations across Canada with access to police services that are professional, effective, culturally appropriate, and accountable to the communities they serve.

1992: Aboriginal Justice Initiative established and has been working with Native communities to improve justice institutions for Aboriginals and help them move towards greater self-sufficiency in the area of justice.

1998: the Canadian government issued the Statement of Reconciliation, and committed $350 million in support of a community-based healing strategy to address the healing needs of individuals, families and communities arising from the legacy of physical and sexual abuse at residential schools. The money was used to launch the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

1999: creation of Canada’s third territory, Nunavut, which changed the relationship between the Inuit of the Eastern subarctic and the Canadian government permanently, giving them a high degree of autonomous self-government.

- If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.

- I can talk with my mouth full and not have people put this down to my color.

- I have no difficulty finding neighborhoods where people approve of our household.

- I can choose blemish cover or bandages in "flesh" color and have them more or less match my skin.

What is Racism?

"I was taught to recognize racism only in individual acts of meanness by members of my group, never in invisible systems." -McIntosh

Conclusion

Discussion

1. There is no question that steps have been taken to address the inequality of opportunity that faces First Nations Peoples in Canada. However, have these steps actually helped eliminate racism?

2. Some people believe that racism in Canada today is for the most part, a covert operation. Have Canada’s endeavours in the field of human rights and its strong stance against racism only resulted in a more politically correct population who have learned to better conceal their prejudices? What do you think?

3. What is your opinion on multiculturalism and diversity in Canada? What should it look like to you?

4. The article is not only from 1988, but also American. From your own personal knowledge, how might our Canadian timeline and general perspectives differ from those in the US?

Current Culture Racism

Oneida Indians

Cleveland Indians

Chicago Blackhawks

Washington Redskins

Kansas City Chiefs

Atlanta Braves

Edmonton Eskimos

Should sports teams (or other organizations) be allowed to keep using their appropriated names? Would being allowed to keep their names be a perpetuation of white privilege?

-Movies

-Advertisements

-Slang

-Institutional Names

-Etc.

Conservation by Chris Paul (2004)

Can you name any examples of white actors playing Indigenous roles or vice versa in recent films (not mentioned in the trailer)? Is white actors being cast in Aboriginal roles an instance of white privilege?

What are some examples of racism or racial stereotyping in classic movies that you can think of?