Is systemic racism a problem in Canada? | Outburst
Summary
TLDRThe video transcript discusses systemic racism in Canada, acknowledging its presence and growing visibility with a more diverse population. It highlights the Indian Act's impact on Indigenous peoples and the underaddressed issues of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Participants recognize the need for societal inclusion and the challenges in acknowledging and addressing systemic racism. Personal experiences vary, with some noting minimal direct encounters, while others emphasize the ongoing struggle, especially within Indigenous communities. The conversation underscores the importance of recognizing and confronting racism to foster societal change.
Takeaways
- π Systemic racism is acknowledged as a problem in Canada, embedded in societal structures.
- ποΈβπ¨οΈ It often goes unnoticed by a large segment of the population but is becoming more recognized as Canada's demographics diversify.
- π The issue is growing as the country's non-Northern European population increases, necessitating inclusion and societal integration.
- π Recognizing systemic racism is seen as a crucial first step towards addressing and rectifying it.
- π‘ The Indian Act is cited as a historical example of systemic dysfunction that has victimized Indigenous peoples.
- πΏ There is a contrast between Canada's self-perception as more inclusive compared to the United States and the reality of systemic issues.
- π The problem of missing and murdered Indigenous women is highlighted as a longstanding issue that has only recently gained attention.
- π« The residential school system and its lasting impact on generations are discussed as part of the systemic racism narrative.
- π Personal experiences vary, with some individuals not feeling the effects of racism, while others do.
- π€ Despite some personal positive experiences, systemic racism is acknowledged as a problem that affects certain communities more than others.
- π£οΈ There is a debate on the extent and perception of racism, with some suggesting it is overblown and others insisting it is a pervasive issue that needs to be confronted.
Q & A
What is systemic racism, as described in the transcript?
-Systemic racism is described as being built into the structure of society. It may be invisible or non-existent to a large segment of the population, but it affects non-European populations and has become a growing problem as they integrate into society.
Why is systemic racism in Canada often overlooked by some people?
-Many people, particularly those not affected, may not recognize systemic racism because it can be invisible to those who do not experience its effects. People from different backgrounds may see it more clearly, but it's less overt compared to other countries.
How has Canada's history contributed to systemic racism, according to the transcript?
-Canada's history, particularly through policies like the Indian Act, has contributed to systemic racism by marginalizing Indigenous populations. The transcript also mentions the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, which only recently gained attention despite being a long-standing problem.
What role does recognizing systemic racism play in addressing the problem?
-Recognizing systemic racism is seen as an important first step in addressing the issue. Once acknowledged, steps can be taken to implement measures and reforms to reduce its impact on marginalized communities.
How does the experience of systemic racism differ between Canada and other countries?
-Some speakers in the transcript note that systemic racism in Canada is less visible and less severe than in other countries like Russia or the United States. However, it still exists, especially towards Indigenous and minority communities, even if it's less overt.
What is the connection between systemic racism and Canada's Indigenous communities?
-The transcript highlights that systemic racism has deeply affected Canada's Indigenous communities through policies like the Indian Act and residential schools. Indigenous people continue to face discrimination, and the issues surrounding their treatment have been long ignored.
How does systemic racism manifest in Canada's modern context?
-Systemic racism is evident in various areas, such as the conflict between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities over resources, like the lobster fishing dispute in Digby. It's also seen in societal structures that disadvantage marginalized groups.
What is the view of some speakers regarding media's role in systemic racism?
-One speaker in the transcript suggests that media plays a role in amplifying divisions, such as pitting different races or genders against each other. This person believes that the media's portrayal of racism and other issues exacerbates tensions.
How does personal experience shape one's perception of systemic racism in Canada?
-Several speakers mention that personal experiences with racism vary greatly. While some have not personally faced discrimination, others from minority groups see it as an ongoing issue. One speaker highlights that how someone feels about racism is often influenced by their personal interactions.
What impact has technology had on addressing systemic racism?
-According to one speaker, technology has made it easier to expose systemic racism, as it allows people to film and share incidents that might otherwise be hidden. This has brought more attention to racism, but addressing the deep-rooted issue will take time.
Outlines
π Systemic Racism in Canada
The speaker acknowledges the presence of systemic racism in Canada, embedded within societal structures. They note that while it may be invisible to some, it is a growing concern with the increasing diversity of the population. The speaker emphasizes the need to recognize and address this issue, highlighting the Indian Act and its detrimental effects on indigenous people. They also mention the underrepresentation and mistreatment of indigenous women, suggesting that Canada has significant work to do in terms of indigenous relations. The speaker contrasts Canada's self-perception with the reality of its racial issues, suggesting that there is a collective denial that needs to be overcome.
π Racism as a Personal Experience
The speaker discusses racism as a deeply personal experience, influenced by one's background and interactions with others. They mention their own positive experiences in Canada, where they have not faced significant racism, but acknowledge that it is a pervasive issue worldwide. The speaker suggests that racism is being addressed more openly now due to increased awareness and the ability to document incidents. They also touch on the idea that some individuals may use racism as a tool to advance their own agendas, but ultimately, they believe that Canada is less racist compared to other countries and that personal experiences can vary greatly.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Systemic racism
π‘Indigenous relations
π‘Residential school system
π‘Indian Act
π‘Visible minority
π‘Media
π‘Discrimination
π‘Black community
π‘Lobster fishing dispute
π‘Personal experience
Highlights
Systemic racism is embedded in the structure of Canadian society, though it's often invisible to many, particularly the majority population.
The growth of non-European populations in Canada has highlighted the issue, particularly as they play important societal roles but are often excluded.
Recognizing systemic racism is the first step toward addressing and taking measures to resolve it.
One participant mentioned that the worst form of systemic racism in Canada is the Indian Act, which historically oppressed Indigenous peoples.
Canada's image as a 'better version of the States' regarding racism is misleading, as Canada has its own serious issues, such as missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Indigenous relations require much work, and the conversation around these issues is only starting, despite the problems being long-standing.
Comparing Canada's systemic racism to other countries, one participant noted that while racism exists in Canada, it is far less overt than in places like Europe or Russia.
Current issues, such as the conflicts in Digby over lobster fishing, show that systemic racism is an ongoing issue in Canada.
The residential school system is a prime example of the lasting effects of systemic racism on generations of Indigenous peoples.
For some Canadians, systemic racism is a major problem, but others may not see or acknowledge it, creating a challenge for wider recognition.
Systemic racism exists globally, and until it is addressed head-on, it will persist, even in countries like Canada.
Despite being part of a visible minority, one participant noted they were treated well and had positive experiences, suggesting that racism is experienced differently by individuals.
Indigenous communities in Canada are disproportionately affected by systemic racism, with little meaningful change happening over the years.
While some people believe racism is overemphasized or used to push certain agendas, others see Canada as less racist compared to other countries.
Advances in technology and social media have brought more attention to systemic racism, allowing it to be more widely recognized and addressed.
Transcripts
is
systemic racism a problem in canada
there is systemic racism in that it's
built into the structure of our society
for the large segment of the population
it is
invisible or non-existent but it is
a growing problem as we get a larger
non-northern european population who we
need to do
important jobs and we need to include in
society but have failed to do so i think
it is
yes um i think recognizing it is a step
forward
and then we can start about addressing
and taking again the right measures to
do it
uh do believe that it does exist
and i believe we see the manifestation
of that in their
everyday life know whether whether we
like it or not
uh for me personally i think the worst
uh
uh the worst explanation this country is
definitely uh
you know the indian act that basically
made the aboriginal victim of all kind
of
of systemic
dysfunction of our society i mean we
like to think of canada
as the better version of the states and
oh well we don't have a problem here
like we have in the states but i don't
think
that that fully represents canada we
have a big issue we have murdered and
missing indigenous women
that only became like something that we
talked about in recent years
when it's been a known problem for many
years so
i think in terms of indigenous relations
there's a lot of work to be done
and there's like some work that's being
done that's just starting now but it's
long overdue
well it can't there is but
you cannot see it uh as somebody
came from a different background
i would see it sometimes not a lot i
grew up in
different countries i grew up in europe
i grew up in russia as well when i was
young
so over there it's clearly see it over
here is
much much much less but you still
you can't feel it sometimes as a racism
or
difference of uh of the people over here
but a very low very low comparing to the
other countries in the world i mean
yeah i think so for sure especially
right now we see a lot of the problems
going on in digby with the lobster
fishing
so i think people should be super aware
that it's still an ongoing issue
i'm a schoolteacher so i've studied the
residential school system and how that
has affected
uh the generations that that came out of
it
but also the ideal the ideologies that
implemented that system the same
structures the same
family compact that put the structures
into place originally that would
do that sort of atrocity of a
system that's still in place yeah i
think it's a problem for
some people in canada some people
recognize it as big problem other people
may not recognize it i think that's the
challenge of
systemic racism and the movement around
it is for people
to help people recognize it a little bit
more and i think that's the state we're
at in canada now
definitely i think it's a problem
worldwide
it's everywhere it's been there it's
still here it's not going anywhere
until we address it head on it's really
hard to tell
even though i'm a part of the visible
minority like
i've been treated well here and people
are respectful i have lots of friends
different backgrounds um so yeah i think
it will be
different for every every person i think
definitely within the indigenous
community
um especially i think obviously like
black people are discriminated against
as well but i think because we have such
a larger population of indigenous people
and that has been like an ongoing like
issue since the very beginning of canada
like
i think it's definitely an issue still
today because nothing's changed really
not in my world uh you know
we talk about that quite often you know
people
at the pubs or whatever you you could
have a multitude of races and whatnot
and we all seem to get along
it's uh the uh the elites and whatnot
that seem to be creating the problem but
we see this quite a bit with a
you know with be it sexism racism it's
pitting man against women black against
white
through the media i think to say that it
isn't
would be um
yeah completely untrue i think i think
probably there's
racism still all over the world but
definitely canada
is not immune to it and to deny that it
exists would be
to put the people who suffer from it
in a position where they're not being
seen and their issues are not being
heard
i don't think it is a lot of other
people do but i myself don't think it is
i think it's blown out of proportion a
lot
and they're using it they're using it as
a way to
try to get their their wants across to
other people
and i don't know to me i don't think
they're
i think canada is a lot less racist than
a lot of other
countries for sure racism is never going
to be something that doesn't exist
how you feel racism is a completely
personal experience
personally i think that when i deal with
people that unders
have seen the world travel the world i
don't necessarily
feel any form of racism when i deal with
people that are more
unhappy in their own skin i feel a
certain tension that has nothing to do
with
me but with them and how they
see my differences as
a trigger for them so personally
i'm fine because i never had any problem
yes
i think it's a problem everywhere it's
just finally being addressed
you know it's it's been made more aware
as as
to technology and and you know the
ability to to film that's really just
brought to light a bit more i think it's
always been an issue
it's just finally being addressed right
now and it's gonna
you know with with how long it's been
going on i think it's gonna take time to
to earn trust back and and fix that that
problem
you
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