I am a human being blessed with being born in Canada, which maintains a multicultural society. In order for multiculturalism to exist, we as Canadians must accept and encourage many cultures to thrive within our society.
Seeing slurs such as the n-word, given the derogatory history associated with the word, being used does not feel encouraging. In Canada, those who are from other countries say we are polite and well mannered, but to apologize in every sentence isn’t what makes someone polite.
Being polite means taking that extra mile to make someone feel comfortable, to be there for them no matter what their race or background is. White people are held up like a shiny gold bar, a privilege, in Canada.
The image Canada gives isn’t a sense of belonging or comfort; it’s a sense of “let’s take from those who aren’t privileged.” I’m writing this because I’m truly devastated to watch what goes around me daily. It makes me sick. So if me being a white person has privilege and is held up above all others, then my voice and speaking out should be a key indicator that we have gone royally wrong. No matter a person’s race, we all should be equal. I have always been taught to be fair and to share with those around me. I will not stand here and do nothing about this anymore. It’s disturbing; racism needs to stop.
The premise that you would use language directed against you and turn it around and use it for yourself—as people have with the n-word, and as a University of Ottawa professor was explaining to a class when she came under fire for using the word recently—is a very powerful and subversive tool. But people using racist language in a negative way must stop.
Canada has come a long way since officially becoming a multicultural society in 1971, but there are still issues not being addressed, and racist language being used today, which isn’t okay.