Acknowledging the roots of racism
Regarding Reconciling Racism, What’s So Funny?, and Saving Face (NOW, September 26-October 2).
Nowhere in any of this excellent coverage of the Brownface/Blackface controversy did the writers acknowledge that racism in Canada is rooted in its origin as a colonial-settler state.
Since the first arrival of European settlers, Indigenous peoples have faced and continue to face racist discrimination.
Yes, people of African ancestry also faced such racist discrimination. But until it is universally acknowledged that this behaviour is inherent in the beginnings of this country there will be no reconciliation or equity.
Ted Turner, Toronto
Media’s Brownface/Blackface hypocrisy
Thank you to Douglas Gary Freeman for his excellent article. I’ve been writing about the use of Blackface and the history of minstrelsy for some years.
But I would be wary about the national discussion on this topic that is unfolding in the popular press.
Note National Post columnist Christie Blatchford’s sanctimonious finger-wagging and Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason’s take on what he refers to as “the racist-costume controversy.”
Three years ago, when predominantly white Queen’s University students held a drunken bash while dressed mockingly as Buddhist monks, Vietnamese guerrillas, Arab sheiks and Rastafarians in dreadlocks, Mason bristled in a column that “sometimes a monk costume is just a monk costume.” He went on to excoriate university administrators when they announced they would be investigating the incident.
Talk about double standards.
Robin Breon, Toronto
Election coverage balancing act
Regarding Saving Face: I have despised many of Enzo DiMatteo’s columns in the past, especially when it came to city politics. But I will give credit where credit is due. This article is well-researched and balanced.
Paul Skinner, Toronto
Where was the anger at Global Climate Strike?
It was good to see people in the streets, many for the first time, during the Global Climate Strike (NOW Online, September 28). Get used to it! You and millions of others will be in the streets again and again when the effects of climate change come home.
Perhaps next time there will be more anger. Where was that essential emotion? Around the world, millions of people are already losing their homes to climate change and the continuing, destructive exploitation of the world’s limited resources.
You will have to make do with less in the future. Are you ready for that? Are you ready to be one of those who are already paying the price? You’d better be, because soon, unless radical action is taken now, you won’t be able to avoid it.
Barbara Powell, Toronto
Politics-as-usual won’t cut it on climate
We only have 11 years to avoid a climate catastrophe and politics-as-usual won’t solve it.
Government has failed to address the emergency at the scale required.
We need bolder solutions to slash emissions, end toxic fossil fuel subsidies, invest billions in green energy projects and create green jobs.
Judith Patrick, Toronto
Lessons from Lilly Singh
Regarding Lily Singh Talks Late-night, Trump And Cultural Appropriation (NOW Online, September 9). People are fed up with the labelling of political opponents as fascists and racists. Trump got elected and the excessive attacks on him by the left may well get him re-elected.
Don Gaughan, From nowtoronto.com
