Black people’s struggles have persisted since 1834 and are still refuted.
As Black History Month begins there is an increase in social media ads being circulated by companies in an attempt to show solidarity with the Black community — 28 days of T-shirts with Black images from Old Navy and anti-racism and diversity training within corporations that have no Black people in managerial positions.
Every year society puts on a show of inclusivity until March 1 when the fire has burned out and St. Patrick’s Day anticipation has taken over.
Black Canadian history is more than the Underground Railroad to Nova Scotia or Viola Desmond sitting in the whites only section of a theatre. It was not until the age of 18 when I, a Black Canadian woman, learned that slavery had existed in Canada. The multicultural country that I had been taught was not racist has over 163 years of history that is not being taught.
Why is that? It is mandatory for high school students in Germany to learn about the Holocaust and Nazi era. Historical events, whether good or bad, are a part of a country’s identity and need to be taught. Admitting wrongs does not mean that a country is forever stuck in the shadow of its past. But hiding the wrongs may suggest that its leaders believe the actions were appropriate or should have continued.
I recently learned that the last racially segregated school in Canada closed in 1983 in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. Only 39 years ago, white people believed that Black children would corrupt their children. Only 39 years ago, Black children’s access to education was deliberately restricted. The administrators of those schools are middle aged now. The white supremacist values held by them and taught to their children are still alive.
Unsurprisingly, labour was also segregated. Black labourers were exploited and subjected to poor working conditions. In the early 1900’s, American engineer George Pullman popularized the sleeping car and railway labour. White men worked as conductors, but the Black men worked as low-level porters. They shined shoes and were to be at the beck and call of the white passengers. In this post-slavery society, Black labourers were still viewed as worthless and interchangeable, so much so that all Black porters were called “George.”
Canada’s history, its participation in the Atlantic slave trade and treatment of Black Canadians after abolishment confirms one thing, that Canada was never supposed to be multicultural. Xenophobic immigration legislation turned away would-be labourers to the detriment of the economy. Sought-after Europeans did not need Canada; their countries were booming.
In the 1960s changes were made to the Immigration Act to allow the undervalued and unappreciated Black and People of Colour of the world to rebuild Canada’s crumbling economy. Once Pierre Elliot Trudeau was elected prime minister and introduced “multiculturalism,” Canada’s identity changed.
This era is where Black history starts for Canadians. From 1971 onward we hear about the accolades of Lincoln Alexander becoming Lieutenant Governor and nothing of the hardships he faced as a Black man during the Second World War, or not being able to secure employment after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law school. Everything before 1971 is a blip that is never discussed.
Black people’s struggles have persisted since 1834 and are still refuted. Living in this country as a Black person who knows that the full history is not being taught and can be repeated is terrifying.
I cannot be in white spaces without being on guard, looking out for microaggressions or blatant racism. When Black people attempt to have honest conversations about race and history, we are told to get over it or met with counter arguments like, “What about Irish slaves?” Fun fact – they were indentured servants and not slaves. Being gaslit about factual historical events and having your struggles be dismissed is the direct result of accurate Black history not being taught and having closeted racists hold powerful positions in society.
This is a call to action. Black history is Canadian history, and it is time for Canada to reveal itself.
Article From: The Star
Author: Shanii Defoe
Shanii Defoe is a graduate student and justice sector worker from Toronto.
