Ask most Canadians if racism is present in their country and you will get a swift denial of this type of social injustice. Canadians tend to see themselves as a tolerant people who desire equality and opportunity for all. Canada has two official languages, English and French. The country also encourages immigration and plans to welcome a quarter million new immigrants from all over the world in 2013.
Allegations of racism are prevalent in society today. Depend upon the fact that every time you hear of someone charged with being racist their response will be the same, “I am not a racist!”
Those making the allegations are left to wonder, “How could this person not recognize their words or behaviors as racist?” The logical conclusion is to recognize that this person is in denial.
Is it possible that people who look at the world through racist eyes have no idea they are doing so?
Each week, the White Privilege Conference and the Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion, housed at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS), hosts a half hour radio show called Intersections Radio that features an interview with a different author, scholar, and/or speaker.
Abraham Lincoln and his freedom of African-Americans from the bonds of slavery looms over any other subject associated with him. Thus, we all think we know Lincoln — kind, charitable, funny, wise, and compassionate, a good and decent person who acted toward everyone else the same benevolent way.
But did he? How does Lincoln measure up when it comes to another oppressed race of the day…Native Americans?