Racism. Like crime it will never quit totally disappear no matter how hard
we try. Vancouver might lead the way in some respects. It currently has
the highest number of “mixed race” marriages in Canada. My little
brother, Art Lee, was elected to parliament and BC had, I think, the first
East Indian premier. But basking in the praise heaped on Canada
internationally, we have forgotten that our own past is riddled with
racism.
The Kokakanga Maru in Vancouver and the Ukrainian work camps of WW1 (they
built the large log signs so prevalent in Banff), the head tax levied on
Chinese and the race riots in Vancouver. The beautiful home in the wealthy
part of town that is now Canuck Place Children’s Hospice once was the
Imperial Palace of the B.C. KKK. The KKK stood a good chance of becoming
the government in Saskatchewan. Immigration to Canada was once limited only
to those from Great Britain for years. Eventually Icelanders and
Scandinavians were allowed. We forget all that past while multiculturalism
has forced most bigots underground, or at least very quiet. Amongst other
things, it allowed radio and tv hosts to use their real names instead of
the English sounding ones.
I have never understood racism or discrimination due to ethnicity or
religion. It makes no sense to me at all. Living in the US for five years
showed me how bad racism is there. Back here, Sonia’s four daughters are
Eurasian, all being born in Singapore, and rarely were confronted with any
prejudice.
However, we cannot be smug. Hate crimes against minorities are increasing
daily, much directed Asians allegedly due to Covid19. Jews are also
targets with headstones turned over in Jewish cemetaries and ugly graffii
on synagogue walls.
On Tue, Mar 9, 2021 at 3:21 PM Frank Lewis <livingincranbrook@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I appreciate those Brothers who have provided feedback on reasons not
to attend the ‘White Privilege’ ZOOM gatherings.
The perspectives shared by Brothers Jim Mann, Grant LeDrew, Rudi Grab
and Michael Dunne may well echo the thoughts of many more. Critical
dialogue is so important to any narrative. Critical dialogue involves
‘taking a pause’ to listen to other's stories, to reflect, to consider
and perhaps reconsider. Suzanne assigned me a reading from the
March-April 2021 Harvard Business Review that recounts Steve Jobs team
"pushing him to rethink his positions. If Jobs hadn't surrounded
himself with people who knew how to change his mind, he might not have
changed the world." Oh my, what would it be like not having our
IPhone?:)
Yes, I am part of a race, the white race. My people emigrated to
Canada for a better life, they worked hard on farms and railways to
make room for my generation to pursue a post secondary education. To
them I am indebted beyond any and all words. I am humbled by the their
self giving and generosity.
Racism is a loaded word. To many of us growing up through the Civil
Rights era, racism was something negative, something that existed
south of the border --- a way in which people were denied equality
because of systemic discrimination existing in government, community,
workplace, and schools.
All of us have had new experiences since our graduation from the UofA.
We have forged careers in the Arts, Sciences, Commerce, Education, Law
and Medicine. I have been blessed with a great education, career and
wealth as a result. In reflection over these many years since
graduation a deeper appreciation came upon me as I worked for First
Nations as a lawyer and later lived beside First Nations as a
Minister. My narrative changed as I came to understand more and I
continue to acknowledge having much more to understand.
I have found a better way to understand my identity as a white person
vis-à-vis people of colour in this definition from Robin Diangelo’s
book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About
Racism.
…White privilege, a sociological concept referring to advantages that
are taken for granted by whites and cannot be similarly enjoyed by
people of color in the same context (government, community, workplace,
schools, etc).
Likely these words will stir further conversation. Perhaps interactive
dialogue can benefit us all.
YITBOS
Frank Lewis
