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.