2010-03-21: "Go back to Africa"

On the way out of my building in Vancouver, on the edge of Yaletown, a homeless man at the corner noticed me and shouted a few incoherent things about black people. I hurried across the street to Tim Hortons, partly to get through the morning rain, partly to avoid having to listen to any more of his musings. I could vaguely feel him crossing the street in my general direction as I entered Tim's for my morning cup. And for the record, I am now an abysmal 1 for 13 on "Roll up the Rim".

I shook off the rain, and joined the back of the line. I heard the door behind me reopen, and an addle-brained voiced rang out:

"You should go back to Africa and take your American money with you!"

I don't think that I was as shocked as the 20 or so other patrons at Tim's. They all just nervously looked at the man as he retreated back outside. The restaurant fell silent for a few seconds as people looked around. The servers resumed filling orders. There was a noticeable awkwardness in line, as the people ahead of me shuffled forward in line. No one looked up.

When I went to order my coffee, my voice cracked. It wasn't until then that I realized how shaken I had been. I hadn't felt overly threatened by the man following me and his racist outburst. Maybe it was the disturbed non-response from those in the restaurant. I cannot definitively say.

In light of Sunday's March Against Racism in Vancouver (which I did not attend, nor had any interest to), this little event opened my eyes. People still do not know how to react to overt displays of racism. I don't even know how to react, so I cannot blame them.

As a black individual, I've been exposed to prejudices as long as I can remember, at least since grade school. Each instance frustrates and bewilders me. I'm as far from stereotypical as just about any black male could be. I'm often accused of being "not black enough". As a professional, I have strived to make everything about my abilities and accomplishments. The colour of my skin is only that, the colour of my skin.

As I shake off this experience and continue on with my week, the colour of my skin continues to have no other bearing on who I am nor does it limit my capability.

Queen's Journal

I know this is from ages ago, but I had a letter to the editor published in the Queen's Journal, on the issue I discussed in my previous post. The full letter can be found here:

Students, alumni comment on AMS elections

As a person of African descent, I am always insulted by the use of terms that are derogatory to any minority group, regardless of who is making use of the words. Not only am I appalled that this VP candidate used the term, but I am just as shocked that the Journal would actually repeat the comments made.

...

The Journal should not be afraid to call a spade a spade. It should not be afraid of being seen to side with a white individual over a person from a visible minority in a matter of race relations. Simply because he is also from a visible minority does not give him the right to make blatantly racist comments.

The Queen's Journal ended up endorsing neither team... quite the cop out.

Racism: Double Talk, Double Standards.

I have always been proud to tell people that I was going to Queens' University. But since my graduation this past spring, I have had the opportunity to view the actions of the university and its student body as a sane individual, capable of rational thought, not blinded by my love for the institution that I had learned to live and breathe for 5 years.

Queens' and its culture of whiteness has been spotlighted in the national media twice this past year. Another high profile event occurred this past week, however it shows a different side to the problem of racism at my alma mater.

...MAP vice-president (university affairs) candidate Suhail Panjwani made [comments] last August on Facebook.

The comment, part of a conversation with a friend, said “yo nigga im fine …ive beat these Indian rapest off with bamboo sticks.”

Mr. Panjwani is not black. He comes from an Indian background. (The use of the n-word by a black man is a separate issue on its own). However, what shocks me the most in this entire story is the fact that his use of the n-word IS NOT the talking point in the Queen's Journal article: Click Here.

The article has chosen instead to implicate the individuals responsible for the leak of the Facebook comment, members of the opposition campaign team for the AMS elections, headed by President candidate Michael Ceci. Since when did it become WRONG to blow the whistle on objectionable conduct? When the accuser is white. This is simply a double standard, a reaction to the perceived racism of attacking a brown individual.

The Queen's Journal simply refuses to be seen siding with a white person over a brown person in a matter of race relations. The quick, and gutless, reaction is to automatically place blame on the white individual. But in this case, Mr. Panjwani's words were simply detestable, and unfit for an individual seeking a position of leadership.