Canada's Multiculturalism - Worth Defending | Amira Elghawaby | TEDxOttawa

Summary

The speaker shares her journey as a Muslim-Canadian, reflecting on her childhood experiences of embracing multiculturalism and the challenges she faced after 9/11. She discusses the importance of representation, the rise of discrimination, and the need for unity and diversity. The speaker calls for action to combat racism and discrimination, emphasizing the role of education, media, and individuals in fostering an inclusive society.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker fondly recalls growing up in Ottawa's East End in the 1980s, embracing the multicultural environment and participating in various school activities.
• 🍽 The school's hotdogs were a point of exclusion for the speaker due to dietary restrictions, highlighting the challenges of fitting in with certain cultural practices.
• 🏫 The speaker was inspired by school figures like Mr. Ron Coleman, who encouraged her and her friends to present on Islam at a school assembly, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in their cultural identity.
• 🌍 The speaker's high school experience was marked by further engagement with multiculturalism, with the multicultural club playing a significant role in her life and education.
• 👩‍🏫 Monsieur Mikolaj, a teacher with a Haitian background, is highlighted as an influential figure who instilled pride in one's cultural heritage and encouraged the celebration of diversity.
• 🎓 The speaker's university experience was characterized by a continued sense of belonging and the eagerness to learn and engage with peers and professors from diverse backgrounds.
• 🧢 The decision to wear a headscarf marked a significant moment in the speaker's life, leading to a deeper exploration of her faith and a confrontation with her father's concerns about fitting in.
• 📰 The speaker's career as a journalist allowed her to practice her faith while challenging stereotypes and advocating for representation and diversity in the media.
• 🔍 Post-9/11, the speaker noticed a decline in the multicultural 'kool-aid' as experiences of racism and discrimination became more pronounced, affecting the Muslim community and other minority groups.
• 🌐 The speaker calls for a renewed commitment to multiculturalism and inclusivity, emphasizing the importance of representation, education, and advocacy in fostering a more diverse and accepting society.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the story presented in the transcript?

The main theme of the story is the personal journey of the narrator, who is a Canadian Muslim woman of Egyptian heritage, reflecting on her experiences with multiculturalism, identity, and the challenges faced by Muslims and other minority groups in Canada.

What was the narrator's childhood experience with school hotdogs?

The narrator's childhood experience with school hotdogs was one of exclusion because her mother couldn't be certain that there was no pork in them, which led her to sit out the hotdog lunches while her friends ate.

Who was Mr. Ron Coleman and what did he teach the narrator?

Mr. Ron Coleman was the school principal who taught the narrator to embrace her differences. He encouraged her and her friends to present on Islam at a school assembly, which was a pivotal moment for her.

What is the significance of the 'kool-aid' mentioned in the transcript?

The 'kool-aid' is a metaphor for the distinctly Canadian flavor of multiculturalism. The narrator drank the 'kool-aid' when she embraced her identity and the multicultural values of Canada, which she carried with her throughout her life.

What role did the multicultural club play in the narrator's high school experience?

The multicultural club in high school was a source of inspiration and motivation for the narrator. It allowed her to share her culture with others and learn about the diverse backgrounds of her peers, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in her heritage.

How did the narrator's perception of Canada change after 9/11?

After 9/11, the narrator's perception of Canada shifted as she became more aware of the marginalization and discrimination faced by Muslims and other minority groups. This event highlighted the challenges and the need for continued advocacy for human rights and social justice.

What was the narrator's father's concern when she decided to wear a headscarf?

The narrator's father was concerned that wearing a headscarf would create barriers for her, standing in the way of her career goals and fitting in with Canadian society, as he had faced racism and discrimination himself.

How did the narrator's career as a journalist influence her views on representation and diversity?

The narrator's career as a journalist made her realize that representation and diversity were still a work in progress, especially in newsrooms and higher levels of leadership. This realization led her to advocate for more inclusive narratives and policies.

What are some of the challenges faced by the narrator and other Muslims in Canada, as described in the transcript?

The narrator and other Muslims in Canada face challenges such as being attacked, vilified, and experiencing vandalism or arson of their places of worship. They also face unfair suspicion, stigma, and discrimination, which has been exacerbated by events like 9/11.

What is the narrator's call to action for creating inclusive communities?

The narrator calls for a collective effort to embrace and protect diversity, to stand up for equity and inclusion, to support policies and leaders that reflect the demographics of Canada, and to promote education and media narratives that represent the contributions of all communities.

How does the narrator suggest that individuals can contribute to unity, diversity, and love?

The narrator suggests that individuals can contribute to unity, diversity, and love by getting to know each other, sharing a smile, voting for diverse candidates, supporting inclusive policies, addressing systemic discrimination, and promoting education that represents the diversity of experiences.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Embracing Multiculturalism

The speaker reminisces about growing up in Ottawa's East End during the 1980s, highlighting the cultural diversity and the inclusive environment fostered by school and community activities. Despite feeling different due to dietary restrictions, the speaker was encouraged to embrace their differences by school principal Mr. Ron Coleman, who invited them to present on Islam at a school assembly. This experience, along with participation in the multicultural club in high school, instilled a deep appreciation for multiculturalism and the pride in one's cultural heritage.

05:01

👳‍♀️ The Impact of 9/11 on Muslim Identity

The speaker shares their journey of exploring their spiritual identity and the decision to wear a headscarf, which was met with initial resistance from their father due to concerns about fitting in and potential discrimination. Despite this, the speaker found support and inspiration from educators like Mr. Coleman and others, which led to a successful career as a journalist. However, the events of 9/11 drastically changed the landscape, leading to increased Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims. The speaker's work in the media provided a front-row seat to the challenges faced by the community, including attacks on places of worship and the need to defend human rights.

10:04

🚫 Confronting Racism and Discrimination

The narrative shifts to the present, where the speaker discusses the ongoing struggle against racism and discrimination, particularly against Muslims and other minority groups. Personal experiences of being targeted and the broader societal issues are highlighted, including the rise in hate crimes and the emotional toll on communities. The speaker calls for a collective effort to stand up against racism, advocating for systemic change in media representation, workplace diversity, and education to foster a more inclusive society.

15:06

🌈 Fostering Unity and Inclusion

In the final paragraph, the speaker offers a message of hope and a call to action, emphasizing the importance of unity, diversity, and love. They suggest practical steps for individuals and society to combat discrimination, such as voting for diverse candidates, supporting inclusive policies, and promoting accurate media narratives. The speaker also stresses the critical role of education in shaping a truthful understanding of history and fostering inclusivity. The narrative concludes with an optimistic vision of a society where everyone has a place, symbolized by the availability of diverse hot dogs for everyone, reflecting a stronger and more inclusive community.

Keywords

💡Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism refers to the coexistence of diverse cultures within a society, often characterized by the acceptance and promotion of cultural diversity. In the video, multiculturalism is a central theme, symbolized by the 'Kool-Aid' the speaker drinks, representing the embracing of Canada's diverse cultural landscape. The speaker's personal journey and experiences in school and community events underscore the importance of multiculturalism in fostering inclusion and understanding among people of different backgrounds.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the unfair treatment of people based on their race, religion, gender, or other characteristics. The video discusses the challenges faced by the speaker and others due to discrimination, particularly in the context of being Muslim or perceived as such. The speaker's narrative highlights the impact of 9/11 on the perception and treatment of Muslims, illustrating how discrimination can lead to social exclusion and fear.

💡Islamophobia

Islamophobia is the fear or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, which often manifests as discrimination or hostility. The video mentions Islamophobia as a form of discrimination that the speaker and her community have faced, especially post-9/11. It is used to illustrate the heightened levels of prejudice and the need for increased understanding and acceptance of Muslims in society.

💡Representation

Representation in this context refers to the presence and portrayal of minority groups in various aspects of society, such as media, politics, and the workplace. The speaker reflects on the lack of representation in newsrooms and other sectors, noting that true diversity is still a work in progress. The video emphasizes the importance of representation for fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes are oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a particular group of people. The video discusses how stereotypes can be harmful, as they often lead to misconceptions and discrimination. The speaker's work as a journalist is highlighted as a way to dispel stereotypes about Muslims and to promote a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the community.

💡Headscarf

A headscarf, in the context of the video, refers to the traditional Islamic covering worn by some Muslim women as a sign of modesty and faith. The speaker's decision to wear a headscarf is a personal choice that also becomes a symbol of her identity as a Muslim woman. It leads to conversations with her father about fitting in and the potential barriers it might create, reflecting on the challenges of maintaining one's cultural and religious identity in a diverse society.

💡Advocacy

Advocacy is the act of supporting a cause or arguing for a particular viewpoint. In the video, the speaker's journalism evolves into advocacy as she works to defend the human rights of Muslims and other marginalized communities. Advocacy is presented as a necessary response to the discrimination and prejudice faced by these groups, emphasizing the role of individuals and communities in promoting social justice.

💡Racism

Racism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over another, which often results in discrimination and prejudice. The video discusses the rise of racism and the impact of events like 9/11 on the perception of Muslims and other minority groups. Racism is depicted as a systemic issue that needs to be actively combated through education, awareness, and advocacy.

💡Unity

Unity refers to the state of being united or together, often in the context of diversity. The video calls for unity as a means to counteract the forces of division and discrimination. The speaker suggests that by embracing diversity and working together, communities can become stronger and more resilient.

💡Inclusion

Inclusion is the act of including or involving people, particularly in the context of ensuring equal opportunities and representation for all. The video emphasizes the importance of inclusion in various aspects of society, from the workplace to schools and media, as a means to create a more equitable and diverse environment where everyone can participate and contribute.

💡Systemic Discrimination

Systemic discrimination refers to the ingrained patterns of discrimination that are built into the structures and institutions of society. The video discusses how systemic discrimination can limit opportunities and perpetuate inequality for minority groups. The speaker calls for a critical examination of these systems and the need for change to ensure equal representation and participation for all.

Highlights

Growing up in Ottawa's East End in the early 80s with a sense of belonging despite cultural differences.

Exclusion from school hotdogs due to uncertainty about pork content, leading to feelings of being different.

Embracing cultural differences with the help of a supportive school principal, Mr. Ron Coleman.

Presenting on Islam at a school assembly, a pivotal moment in embracing multiculturalism.

High school experiences with the multicultural club and the influence of a passionate teacher, Monsieur Mikolaj.

The annual multicultural show as a celebration of diversity, attracting a wide audience.

The decision to wear a headscarf as a personal spiritual choice and the support from inspirational figures.

The challenge of convincing her father about the decision to wear a headscarf and its potential impact on her life.

Navigating a career as a journalist while practicing her faith and challenging stereotypes.

The realization of underrepresentation in newsrooms and the broader implications for diversity.

The impact of 9/11 on the perception of Muslims and the increase in discrimination and racism.

The shift from journalism to advocacy in response to growing intolerance and hate crimes.

The personal toll of experiencing racism and discrimination in her own community.

The importance of standing up for human rights and the rights of all Canadians in the face of discrimination.

The role of media in shaping perceptions and the need for diverse and empathetic storytelling.

The critical role of education in fostering truth, diversity, and representation in schools.

The call to action for individuals to speak out against fear and division and advocate for equity and inclusion.

The vision of a society where everyone has a place, symbolized by the availability of diverse hot dogs for all.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Music]

this is a story about hotdogs and

kool-aid let me explain

I grew up in ottawa's East End in the

early 80s remember the 80s Inspector

Gadget was our early morning cartoon

video hits was our source of music neon

belonged on all our clothing and Brian

Mulroney was the Prime Minister back

then there weren't a whole lot of newly

arrived immigrants

bike hours and yet I didn't feel too

differently

our parents encouraged us to take part

in everything the lighting of the

Christmas tree at school caroling with

the brownies troupe exchanging

Valentine's Day cards and my classmates

and of course trick-or-treating our

neighbours houses but there was one

thing the school hotdogs those or a

no-no you see my mom couldn't be

absolutely certain that there wasn't any

pork in them and so I had to sit that

one out and while my friends chow down I

felt different and when you're 9 years

old

different feels weird but any

embarrassment I had about that or other

things like how hard it was to pronounce

or spell my last name was alleviated by

a school principal who taught me to

embrace my differences mr. ron coleman i

remember his name to this day one

afternoon he came up to me in the

hallway and he said Amira

would you and your friends like to

present on Islam in at a school assembly

me I remember thinking present in front

of the entire school

absolutely

now I didn't know a whole lot about the

topic but I must have figured I could

get up to speed on 1,400 years of

history in no time I convinced my

friends there were about five of us and

our moms were on board we gave a great

presentation it was a lot of fun and

that was the moment the moment I drank

the kool-aid you know that distinctly

Canadian flavor called multiculturalism

I carried that childhood memory with me

right to high school where I filled up

on even more of that sugary drink the

school's multicultural Club was a source

of inspiration and motivation for a

student body that represented over 100

countries and Monsieur mikolaj a pilot

well he was both my science teacher and

kool-aid dispenser extraordinaire you

see for years he'd give up one lunch

break every week to supervise our club

he would offer us get guidance and

advice and his beautiful Haitian accent

he was so proud of his culture and it

was infectious he taught us all to

appreciate where we came from we would

share that pride once a year at the

annual multicultural show it would

attract students and parents from right

across the city and throughout the year

we take opportunities to bring dishes

from home we try out foods we've never

ever heard of sometimes couldn't even

pronounce but found delicious

were there any hotdogs any of those

casseroles probably but the sheer

variety meant that no one had to sit

those gatherings out empowered by those

sorts of experiences it was off to

university I was eager and open to

learning about my peers and professors I

was unafraid to ask questions and make

arguments and classes of up to 200

students it felt so good to

wholeheartedly belong now up until then

I didn't know much about Canada

Colonial shameful relationship with

indigenous communities and I didn't know

anything about anti black racism or

other forms of discrimination honestly I

hadn't even heard of Islamophobia back

then I didn't wear a headscarf and clad

head to toe in Gap clothing I fit right

in

sure sometimes someone asked me you know

where are you really from but I always

took it as a question that of curiosity

never out of malice Canada was a

beautiful mosaic and I was just happy to

be a part of it then came the time that

I decided I wanted to explore my

spiritual inheritance faith from me up

until then was I don't know celebrating

Ramadan with an Eid party who doesn't

love a party right or once in a while

going to the mosque with my family and

if I hadn't studied for exams a hurried

prayer for good measure I decided that

my heart needed more and for me the

first step was to dawn a headscarf and

you know who I had to convince of my

decision well my dad you see he had

major reservations even before 9/11

which completely changed people's

perceptions of my clothing choices after

all he had emigrated to Canada with a

simple hopes that his kids would fit in

succeed live the Canadian dream he had

faced racism and discrimination

firsthand as he struggled to establish

what would eventually be a successful

career in engineering you know he even

considered naming me Karen

my mom when that argument I remember

spending an entire weekend hashing

things out with them are you sure you

want to do this he asked me it's going

to create barriers for you

he was so worried that such a visible

change in how I looked was going to

stand in the way of my career goals but

remember I had drunk the kool-aid dad I

told him with all the inspiration and

confidence inspired and me by mr.

Coleman and Missy

epaulettes and countless others if I

can't be who I want to be here in Canada

and fully contribute to society where

else could I do it and I convinced him

and I proved to him that I had been

right to have drunk that kool-aid

I found steady work as a journalist I

was able to both practice my faith and

dispel stereotypes while doing it at the

Toronto Star one of the few Comus of

color congratulated me for being the

first woman in a head job to work in the

newsroom and I appreciated his words but

I also remember thinking why had it

taken so long it was slowly starting to

dawn on me that despite all the song and

dance and samosas that representation

was still a work in progress I was

starting to realize that in newsrooms

for instance the vast majority of

reporters editors colonists were often

male and pale

I would soon learn that in many civic

agencies and companies true diversity

remained elusive especially as one

looked at higher and higher levels of

senior leadership I started to finally

understand why my dad had been so

worried and then tragically 9/11

happened since then the kool-aid has all

but run dry that painful period was a

hard slap for those of us who had been

blind to racism those of us who'd been

privileged enough like me to not have

experienced the marginalization that far

too many faced 9/11 brought all of that

to the forefront for me in a way I could

not have anticipated soon Muslims and

those perceived as Muslims were being

attacked vilified their houses of

worship vandalized sometimes even set on

fire working in the media I had a

front-row seat to the questions people

were asking and I was grateful to be

there to help look for answers I

remember booking one of my journalism

professors for the morning show Kareem

Kareem had just published a book that

looked at how Western media had often

portrayed Muslims as a threat he told

our listeners he thought that it was

only going to get worse now and one year

later I reported on how our communities

were still reeling still scared forced

to bear the unfair suspicion and stigma

I long to believe that I could still be

who I was a proud Canadian Muslim woman

of Egyptian heritage but some women were

removing their head scarves worried

about being assaulted on the streets or

feeling a chill at work from

colleagues and supervisors who seem to

value their contributions a little less

my journalism would evolve into advocacy

I would find myself at the forefront of

defending our human rights and by

extension the rights of all Canadians

joining like-minded folks working in

civil society we would stand up against

racist policies and racist bullies

bullies who'd never known what it was

like to be excluded ignored racist

bullies who had never wanted to drink

the kool-aid we would watch social media

weaponized against our communities

amplifying misinformation and lies and

some politicians would take advantage

using fear and ignorance to win popular

support time and time again we found our

loyalty being questioned and our

humanity diminished today there are

plenty of people who don't believe I

belong here I've had cars and trucks

swerve dangerously close to me as their

drivers yell go back to where you came

from or take that thing off your head to

experience these things in the very

neighborhoods I grew up in has been

deeply hurtful and disorienting I feel

sick to my stomach when I read polls

that say things like one in four

canadians believes it's more and more

acceptable to discriminate against

muslims or that 40% of canadians

believes that there are too many

immigrants in canada and too many who

are non-white hate crimes targeting

Muslims Jewish people black people and

others are at record level highs online

hate in this country grew by 600 percent

during Donald Trump's presidential

my daughter 11 at the time learned about

the massacre at a Quebec City mosque

from a friend on Facebook

the murderous rampage that led a young

man so consumed by hatred to walk into a

mosque after evening prayers and kill

six men in cold blood he left 17

children without their fathers two years

later my daughter was at a sleepover

with friends and they were on snapchat

they would stumble on a video of another

Massacre happening half a world away in

Christchurch New Zealand we were all

asleep we didn't know they were looking

at footage of the shooting of over 50

worshippers at two mosques when we woke

up we could barely make sense of the

horror ourselves let alone comfort our

children to be a Muslim to be a minority

to be an immigrant or the child of

immigrants to be different is so much

harder now than it ever was for me

growing up it's looking over your

shoulder when you're standing at a bus

stop it's looking over your shoulder

when you're standing in prayer in a

house of worship

it's hoping you get a job even though

your name sounds the way it does it's

trying to ignore the dirty looks you

sometimes feel when you're standing in

line at the grocery store or when you're

picking up your kids from school it's

having to explain why so many of our

communities feel let down by public

institutions that were meant to protect

them and represent them and yes it's

having to talk about things like brown

face and black face and having to push

so hard to have a deeper conversation

about the daily discrimination that's

happening too far too many of our

communities all the time it's having to

talk about systemic discrimination and

how it's holding us back

but every day we face more and more

unapologetic racism we would be foolish

if we were to ignore the rise of white

supremacy here and around the world so

how do we solve for this how do we

nurture the inclusive communities all of

us deserve to live in well here's what I

tell myself and my kids and my dad as

long as there are people like you out

there people who are willing to listen

to each other to bear witness to

humanity's differences to accept them

embrace them and yes protect them then

we can push back against these forces

and yes we can

make sustainable positive change as long

as there are people who stand up for our

Charter of Rights and Freedoms that

belongs to all of us equally people who

believe that no one should be treated as

a second-class citizen not for the color

of their skin their gender what they

wear on their head or any other

characteristic that makes them who they

are you are the hope that keeps people

like me going and together I know that

we could be champions of unity diversity

and love but what does that even look

like well it's a simple things it's

getting to know each other sharing a

smile but it's also more complex its

voting and supporting candidates for

public office who reflect the

demographics of our country it's

supporting elected officials who

actually listen and respond to the

concerns raised by all communities it's

looking at systemic discrimination in

our own workplaces in public agencies in

all decision making and asking ourselves

who's not at the table how do we get

them here how do we remove barriers to

participation to ensure full

representation

and then there's the media it has to get

this right media narratives shape

people's perceptions of reality media

can build empathy and understanding we

should expect more stories that share

the wonderful incredible contributions

of people of all backgrounds to the

success of our country and then there

are schools our schools are critical I

was so lucky I had wonderful experiences

in public schools but we know that

that's not always the case for all young

people first and foremost education must

be about truth-telling

about our country's history and its

present curricula should represent the

vast diversity of experiences of all

students and our teachers should reflect

the demographics of the classrooms

they're teaching in whatever role you

play in society whatever position you

hold each and every one of us can speak

out against fear and division and speak

up for equity and inclusion we can do it

offline online with their colleagues

friends and families put another way

it's time to fill up on that

multicultural kool-aid like never before

in nowadays there are hot dogs for

everyone

there are hotdogs for everyone vegan

kosher halal there are space for all of

us and we are stronger for it thank you

[Music]

[Music]

you