Quick Telecast
Expect News First

The way we are handling race relations is far from the dream MLK had

0 44


Today, the institutions that lead this country want us to look to race first and character is an afterthought

Article content

A little over a week ago, the United States marked the Martin Luther King Day holiday. It’s not a holiday in Canada, but many took time to honour and pay tribute to the remarkable man that Reverend King was.

Advertisement 2

Article content

It’s too bad that in both countries we’ve strayed so far from his goals, his stated objectives in how we try to deal with racial injustice. Today, in an attempt to deal with race issues, we have everything from segregated hiring to segregated social events happening, it’s truly shocking.

Article content

At the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom event in August 1963, 200,000 people listed as King delivered the I Have a Dream speech.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character,” King said in one of the most memorable lines he ever delivered.

His message resonated with many, it made an impression far and wide.

Those words, whether I knew them or not at the time, influenced how I was raised. I was always taught to judge someone by how they acted, how they treated others, the content of their character instead of the colour of their skin.

Advertisement 3

Article content

Growing up in the melting pot that was Hamilton’s East Mountain, this idea was practical rather than theory. We didn’t have to imagine what it would be like to deal with people of other races and cultures, we lived next to each other, went to school together, played together.

Look at the person, not their race nor ethnicity, we were taught in school.

Today, the institutions that lead this country have reversed that and want us to look to race first and character is an afterthought. We see it in hiring policies and now we even see it in segregationist social settings from yoga events on university campuses held just for “Black-identifying students, staff and faculty” or Black Out nights at the theatre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Advertisement 4

Article content

“A Black Out is an open invitation to Black Audiences to come and experience performances with their community,” the NAC website reads.

“The evenings will provide a dedicated space for Black theatregoers to witness a show that reflects the vivid kaleidoscope that is the Black experience.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

The National Arts Centre, as a federal institution dedicated to presenting the performing arts for all Canadians should be presenting plays that reflect the diversity of Canada. They should also be encouraging all Canadians, from all backgrounds, to attend the theatre or other arts performances.

What is bothersome is the apparent segregationist appeal. Rather than encouraging Black theatregoers, in what is a mostly White but slowly diversifying national capital to attend, the NAC makes it sound like this event is only for Black patrons.

Advertisement 5

Article content

“There are no racially segregated shows at the NAC,” Annabelle Cloutier, executive director, strategy and communications for the NAC, said in response to questions.

While she said one of the nine performances of the play Is God Is will be dedicated “to those who self-identify as Black and their guests.” She added, though, that no one would be turned away — “there will be no checkpoints for Black Out night ticket holders and no questions will be asked about anyone’s identity, race or gender.”

It’s good that Cloutier can confirm that but disturbing that it had to be asked.

Whether it is a job in the federal government, reports claiming that the Ontario civil service is a “White supremacist” organization, or attempts to split people based on race, we seem to be going backwards, dividing more rather than coming together.

We talk a good game about equity, diversity and inclusion, and companies and governments spend millions to hire the latest consultants, and divisions grow. The simple message of the I Have a Dream speech is lost and MLK would weep at where we are today.

[email protected]

Advertisement 1

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.


Today, the institutions that lead this country want us to look to race first and character is an afterthought

Article content

A little over a week ago, the United States marked the Martin Luther King Day holiday. It’s not a holiday in Canada, but many took time to honour and pay tribute to the remarkable man that Reverend King was.

Advertisement 2

Article content

It’s too bad that in both countries we’ve strayed so far from his goals, his stated objectives in how we try to deal with racial injustice. Today, in an attempt to deal with race issues, we have everything from segregated hiring to segregated social events happening, it’s truly shocking.

Article content

At the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom event in August 1963, 200,000 people listed as King delivered the I Have a Dream speech.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character,” King said in one of the most memorable lines he ever delivered.

His message resonated with many, it made an impression far and wide.

Those words, whether I knew them or not at the time, influenced how I was raised. I was always taught to judge someone by how they acted, how they treated others, the content of their character instead of the colour of their skin.

Advertisement 3

Article content

Growing up in the melting pot that was Hamilton’s East Mountain, this idea was practical rather than theory. We didn’t have to imagine what it would be like to deal with people of other races and cultures, we lived next to each other, went to school together, played together.

Look at the person, not their race nor ethnicity, we were taught in school.

Today, the institutions that lead this country have reversed that and want us to look to race first and character is an afterthought. We see it in hiring policies and now we even see it in segregationist social settings from yoga events on university campuses held just for “Black-identifying students, staff and faculty” or Black Out nights at the theatre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Advertisement 4

Article content

“A Black Out is an open invitation to Black Audiences to come and experience performances with their community,” the NAC website reads.

“The evenings will provide a dedicated space for Black theatregoers to witness a show that reflects the vivid kaleidoscope that is the Black experience.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

The National Arts Centre, as a federal institution dedicated to presenting the performing arts for all Canadians should be presenting plays that reflect the diversity of Canada. They should also be encouraging all Canadians, from all backgrounds, to attend the theatre or other arts performances.

What is bothersome is the apparent segregationist appeal. Rather than encouraging Black theatregoers, in what is a mostly White but slowly diversifying national capital to attend, the NAC makes it sound like this event is only for Black patrons.

Advertisement 5

Article content

“There are no racially segregated shows at the NAC,” Annabelle Cloutier, executive director, strategy and communications for the NAC, said in response to questions.

While she said one of the nine performances of the play Is God Is will be dedicated “to those who self-identify as Black and their guests.” She added, though, that no one would be turned away — “there will be no checkpoints for Black Out night ticket holders and no questions will be asked about anyone’s identity, race or gender.”

It’s good that Cloutier can confirm that but disturbing that it had to be asked.

Whether it is a job in the federal government, reports claiming that the Ontario civil service is a “White supremacist” organization, or attempts to split people based on race, we seem to be going backwards, dividing more rather than coming together.

We talk a good game about equity, diversity and inclusion, and companies and governments spend millions to hire the latest consultants, and divisions grow. The simple message of the I Have a Dream speech is lost and MLK would weep at where we are today.

[email protected]

Advertisement 1

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE NEWS

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! Quick Telecast is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

Leave a comment
Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.

Powered By
Best Wordpress Adblock Detecting Plugin | CHP Adblock
buy kamagra buy kamagra online