Becoming Antiracist training with subtitles ( module 1b)

Summary

This video script delves into the historical and ongoing racism in Canada, from slavery in New France to the Chinese Pacific Railway workers' exploitation, the Komagata Maru incident, the MS St. Louis liner's rejection, and the internment of Japanese Canadians during WWII. It also addresses contemporary racism in education, employment, goods and services, and health services, emphasizing the systemic barriers and discrimination faced by racialized groups.

Takeaways

• 📚 Canada's history includes significant instances of racial discrimination, which are crucial to understanding the country's present social dynamics.
• 🏆 Slavery was practiced in Canada from 1628 to 1834, with approximately 4,200 African slaves enduring inhumane conditions.
• 🛤️ Chinese workers were exploited in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, facing hazardous conditions and low pay, contributing to the country's infrastructure.
• 🚢 The Komagata Maru incident in 1914 highlighted Canada's exclusionary immigration policies and the belief in a 'white-only' country.
• 🚢 The MS St. Louis in 1939 was a poignant example of Canada's refusal to provide refuge to Jewish passengers fleeing Nazi persecution.
• 🏠 During World War II, Japanese Canadians were unjustly interned, losing their homes and property due to racial prejudice.
• 💼 Racism is evident in Canada's immigration system, with historical policies like the Chinese Head Tax and exclusion of certain groups.
• 🏡 The residential school system, operational from 1886 to 1996, inflicted cultural erasure and abuse on Indigenous children.
• 🎓 Racism persists in academia, with racialized students facing systemic barriers and discrimination from peers and educators.
• 💼 The workplace in Canada shows racial disparities in wages and employment opportunities, with racialized individuals often experiencing unfair treatment.
• 🛍️ Access to goods and services is marred by racial discrimination, with racialized Canadians facing prejudice in various public interactions.
• 🏥 Racism in health services leads to disparities in care and health outcomes, affecting the well-being of racialized communities.

Q & A

What is one significant example of racism in Canadian history mentioned in the script?

Slavery in Canada from 1628 to 1800 is mentioned as a significant example of racism in Canadian history, where French and English settlers enslaved blacks and natives.

How did the Chinese workers contribute to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway?

Chinese workers were imported to Canada in the 1800s to build the Pacific Railway from eastern Canada to the west. They worked in dangerous and difficult conditions and were paid very little.

What was the Komagata Maru incident, and what does it reveal about the beliefs of the time?

The Komagata Maru incident in 1914 involved a ship with South Asian passengers who were denied entry to Canada. It highlights the belief that Canada was an exclusively white country and that Indian people belonged to the British Empire.

What was the fate of the passengers on the MS St. Louis liner when they sought refuge in Canada in 1939?

The Canadian government refused entry to the 963 Jewish passengers on the MS St. Louis liner in 1939, forcing them to return to Europe where 254 of them were later murdered in the Holocaust.

How did the Canadian government treat Japanese Canadians during World War II?

During World War II, the Canadian government expelled approximately 8,000 Japanese Canadians from their homes and properties in western Canada, confining them to a park in Vancouver.

What is one example of racism in the Canadian immigration system mentioned in the script?

A significant example is the imposition of a minimum $50 tax on Chinese immigrants from 1880 to 1923, which was intended to limit Chinese immigration to Canada.

What were the objectives of the residential schools established in Canada?

The residential schools were established with the goal of acculturating and converting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people to Catholicism and assimilating them into Eurocentric culture.

How did the residential schools impact the indigenous students?

Indigenous students in residential schools were given new names, separated from their families, forbidden to speak their native language, and often subjected to poor education and living conditions, including physical and sexual abuse.

What is the current prevalence of racial discrimination in Canada according to the script?

The script states that one in five Canadians report experiencing racial discrimination on a regular basis, which translates to over seven million people.

How does racism manifest in the workplace in Canada?

Racism in the workplace is evident through systemic differences in wages and unemployment rates, as well as experiences of discrimination such as being perceived as less intelligent, receiving inappropriate comments, and harsher disciplinary measures.

What are some ways racism affects health services in Canada?

Racism in health services can manifest through economic and social deprivation, exposure to hazardous living conditions, socially inflicted trauma, targeted marketing of harmful products, inadequate medical care, and ecosystem degradation.