I didn’t expect racism to magically disappear the day after the US election, but it was really disheartening to read an Associated Press article stating that the election caused “hundreds” of hate threats and crimes. This included “cross burnings, school children chanting "assassinate Obama", black figures hung from nooses, racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars” and more (ABC news). stories like this and the one about the group that planned to murder 102 African Americans and attack Obama (ABC news blotter) causes one to wonder if any progress in race relations had been made at all over the years, or is it always going to be one step forward, two steps back? This is not to say that people should give up on efforts to improve race relations and eliminate racism - but more to highlight just how difficult it can be to do so and that there are forces working just as hard to undermine any progress being made.
There is a saying that the difference between racism in Canada and the United States is that “in Canada they don’t care how close you get, as long as you don’t get too high; and in the US they don’t care how high you get as long as you don’t get to close”. In other words, on one hand, minorities are welcomed to dinner but it’s unlikely they’ll get that promotion. On the other hand, one can attain the most important position in the US, but still ain’t welcomed to break bread in some homes. Reinforcing this notion is the fact that in comparison to African Canadians in Canada more African Americans hold key positions in the US corporate and political world. Furthermore, US based companies that promote minorities to upper management and executive positions in the US, do not appear to enforce such practices to the same extent in their Canadian operations. Ironically, Canada and particularly Toronto, has been touted as the multicultural “vegetable bowl” to the US’ “melting pot”. It is often argued or assumed that increased multiculturalism and, in some circles, even assimilation indicates a more tolerant and thus, less racist society. However, aside from all the hype, looking at how culturally diverse a society is or to what degree a society engages in assimilation may not be reliable ways of gauging the extent of racism in a society.
There is a saying that the difference between racism in Canada and the United States is that “in Canada they don’t care how close you get, as long as you don’t get too high; and in the US they don’t care how high you get as long as you don’t get to close”. In other words, on one hand, minorities are welcomed to dinner but it’s unlikely they’ll get that promotion. On the other hand, one can attain the most important position in the US, but still ain’t welcomed to break bread in some homes. Reinforcing this notion is the fact that in comparison to African Canadians in Canada more African Americans hold key positions in the US corporate and political world. Furthermore, US based companies that promote minorities to upper management and executive positions in the US, do not appear to enforce such practices to the same extent in their Canadian operations. Ironically, Canada and particularly Toronto, has been touted as the multicultural “vegetable bowl” to the US’ “melting pot”. It is often argued or assumed that increased multiculturalism and, in some circles, even assimilation indicates a more tolerant and thus, less racist society. However, aside from all the hype, looking at how culturally diverse a society is or to what degree a society engages in assimilation may not be reliable ways of gauging the extent of racism in a society.
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