Thread by @javeedsukhera

There was a piece in today’s @globeandmail that I won’t link here but feel compelled to share my thoughts about with you all. Essentially, the author, who is a philosopher by discipline, argues that the term BIPOC is un-Canadian and should be replaced by the term FIVM. /1

FIVM is a term the author appears to have made up all by themselves to refer to Francophone, Indigenous, and Visible Minority populations. He writes that French Canadians were victimized by British Colonialism and deserve to be recognized. /2

The author lauds Canadian multiculturalism while stating,

“Canada has not sought to racialize what amount to ethnic differences among peoples.”

There are so many things wrong with this article. It is appalling that such a ridiculous piece was published.

/3

So I reflected why I had such a visceral reaction to. Is it because some dude made up an idea about us “Visible Minority” Canadians and tried to legitimize it? Is it his argument that it is Un-Canadian to acknowledge the pernicious nature of state sanctioned anti Black racism? /4

So here’s my rebuttal: the idea that Canada is a multicultural utopia is a LIE constructed and normalized to uphold and maintain a Canadian brand of racism that is uniquely violent and traumatizing for us “Visible Minority” Canadians. /5

The Canadian version of racism suggests that any mention of racism, particularly Anti Black racism is a direct threat to the identity that we have constructed as a defence mechanism to protect our fragile Canadian egos. /6

There are many scholars who have found through robust analysis that Canadians tend not to acknowledge racism within and prefer to point south of the Border instead. This tendency leads us to downplay racism in our midst, gaslighting “Visible Minority” Canadians on the daily. /7

If you would like to see how this works, look around at Canadian efforts to advance Equity in the past have failed to produce meaningful advancement for the “Visible Minority Canadians” who the author cares so much about that he feels so entitled to define our struggle. /8

Think hard about how we are reckoning with our racist PRESENT while pretending like it is our racist past. Think about how people like me are conditioned to remain quiet about our experiences lest we be told to “go back” to where we came for being “ungrateful” /9

So, fellow Canadians, what can we do? Let’s acknowledge that we have a choice. Do you want to help fight racism? Stop pretending like it doesn’t exist. Stop centring our guilt and our comfort. Let’s look in the mirror and stop pointing the finger south of the border. /END

And PS. #GoLeafsGo

PPS. If my thread makes you uncomfortable or you’d like to chat more, don’t grumble in silence...reach out to me for a real life conversation. You can find me if you want to. Now back to the game...