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As a 'community organizer', I can confirm that this is the biggest intellectual and public psyche blindspots we have in Canada, especially Vancouver.
e.g. I'm still shocked by how little knowledge those with power knows of the "Chinese" community and geopolitics in Asia.
e.g. I'm still shocked by how little knowledge those with power knows of the "Chinese" community and geopolitics in Asia.
The reliance on opportunistic and biased brokers, who themselves arguably don't have a full enough grasp of local "Chinese" community dynamics, only sets up the community for further tokenization, licensing of agendas, and reinforces rifts between "Chinese" groups.
I've commented in media re: the fragmentation of the "Chinese" community in Vancouver but again, I'm not confident that people realize the degree and severity of this. This is important reality that we need to grapple with, given the demographics and 'diversity' we have locally.
There aren't too many out there working on intergroup dynamics, especially from w/in the community. There also needs to be work to tell and represent the diversity of interests and stories from w/in the community. Hell, it took me YEARS to start to understand Chinatown politics.
What about the parallel economic and social systems that we have in Canada based on geopolitical affiliation, language, and economic-mobility? Yup, all that exists in plain sight, and have been for most of Vancouver's history. We need to work to build more bridges.
Racism is tied to the emergence and reinforcement of these insular systems, especially historically. But our 'polite' nature and fear of saying the wrong thing combined w/ our collective low competency around race based power dynamics hinders our ability to name these issues.
And guess what, a certain authoritative government knows of this weakness. Through waging a soft power campaign (including misinformation war) and affirming its economic grip on the world, they know that the racism card is an effective way to silence critics, especially the West
This has allowed and reinforced the thinking that cultural grouping affiliated issues that arise such as the #HongKongProtests is only a "Chinese" issue.
No... the erosion of freedoms & democracy in HK should alarm all of us.
No... the erosion of freedoms & democracy in HK should alarm all of us.
There needs to be continued collective learnings and actions on anti-racism overall, including how racism plays a role in dividing & segregating us. It is complex and requires long term dedicated societal change; this is just one shred that is playing out through the HK situation
Freedoms are fundamental in that they cross cultural, social, and other boundaries/divisions we created for ourselves. Racism created and reinforces many of these divisions.
If we don't extend solidarity and support for each other as free people, they win.
If we don't extend solidarity and support for each other as free people, they win.
Put freedoms of people before profits and capitalism*.
Human rights are mandatory, no negotiations.
We must confront racism, in all its forms.
*There's a mostly untold class struggle that is a key part of the #HongKongProtests.
Human rights are mandatory, no negotiations.
We must confront racism, in all its forms.
*There's a mostly untold class struggle that is a key part of the #HongKongProtests.
For easier access, tweet thread is in response to @TerryGlavin's opinion piece "Terry Glavin: Why are we allowing China to bully Canadians here?" in the National Post with comments from @IvyVFHK. Thank you both for the work and advocacy 🙏
nationalpost.com/opinion/terry-…
nationalpost.com/opinion/terry-…
