Cases of racial and ethnic discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which occur daily, impede the improvement of the lives of millions of people around the world. Few social phenomena in the history of the world face such universal condemnation as racism. Although this topic is considered by various organizations, religious, secular or world, racism continues to exist. Evidence of its vitality in the modern world is the reappearance of elements of this ideology in political discourse and the global injustice of the dramatically deepening, difficult-to-understand socio-economic abyss that perpetuates racial hierarchy, being a direct legacy of the colonial era. The stubborn existence of racism, an undeniable fact in a globalizing world, is one of the biggest moral scandals of our time.
History and Definition of the Term
Today, the majority interprets the word ‘racism’ in light of discrimination against black people. However, if one turns to history, it becomes clear that the psychological principles and mechanisms of racism are rooted in the distant past. The term ‘racism’ was initially noted by the Larousse French Dictionary in 1932 and was interpreted as an approach that asserts the dominance of one racial group over others (Downham Moore, 2022). Modern meaning is unchanged, but in political discourse, it is occasionally extended, adding the racial measure of authority with ethnic, religious, or other. Racism is derived from the noun ‘race,’ which has long ceased to denote the concept of clan or family in French (Trawalter et al., 2020). In the 16th century, it was customary to refer to belonging to a ‘good race,’ as well as to declare oneself a person of a good ‘breed,’ a ‘nobleman’ (Trawalter et al., 2020). Emphasizing one’s origin was a way to stand out, to show one’s significance, which was also a kind of social discrimination.
In general, racism is the theory of the hierarchy of races. It legitimizes the superior race’s dominance over others and justifies a whole range of actions and behaviors. Such as the practice of assimilation of subject peoples and, consequently, the need to distinguish between individuals and groups, to build them in a hierarchy based on their greater or lesser ability to be assimilated or resist assimilation.
According to the classification of the French researcher Etienne Balibar, there are four forms of racism:
- everyday manifested in the behavior of ordinary people;
- political program;
- legal norm (in particular, the determination of citizenship by blood);
- public policy (for example, apartheid) (Trawalter et al., 2020).
The realization of racist theories in practice finds its expression in the policy of racial discrimination. It means any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin. Their aim is to destroy or diminish the recognition, use or exercise on an equal basis of individual rights and underlying freedoms in social, political, cultural, economic or any other areas of public life.
The primary source of contemporary racism is also xenophobia. It is especially prevalent concerning non-citizens, migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers. Most human rights violations against members of such groups are committed in the context of discriminatory, xenophobic, and racist practices. In general, it can be said that the term becomes synonymous with a phobia of everything ‘other’: youth, police, workers, immigrants, minorities and more.
An Example from Everyday Canada
After centuries of openly practiced racism against blacks (slave trade, colonialism), racism in many overt and covert forms has become deeply rooted in all societies. It is especially noticeable among those who have benefited most from the ‘superiority’ of the whites and the humiliation of other peoples and cultures. It is rooted in the concept of (white) citizenship and manifests itself in institutions and everyday life.
In general, white Canadians see themselves as essentially free of racial prejudice, perceiving the country as a more inclusive society, which has been criticized. A Fight for Fair Housing report released by the provincial real estate authority on Tuesday 27th September said more than a third of realtors had experienced discrimination or racism (CBC/Ratio Canada, 2022). One in four BIPOCs says a client has refused to work with them because of their personality (CBC/Ratio Canada, 2022). Two in ten consumers say they have been mistreated because of their identity, with Black, Indigenous or Colored, and LGBTQ2S+ being more likely to report such treatment (CBC/Ratio Canada, 2022). It can be concluded that there is still discrimination and injustice toward various social groups in the country.
Therefore, combating racism is a core human rights concern and should be revisited in Canada. In overcoming it, it is also necessary to consider the reality of historically and socially entrenched inequalities. The above story demonstrates the processes of marginalization in society, that is, the act of reducing or limiting a group of people to a lower social status or the outer limit or edge of society (exclusion). Such inequalities and mechanisms of exclusion must be recognized and overcome with effective action.
Diversity and inclusion are the cornerstone of Canadian identity, a source of social and economic strength that all Canadians can be proud of. However, even in such an open and diverse society, it is known that there are still severe problems. Building the foundation for change requires people to recognize that a problem needs to be addressed. Throughout history, and even today, some individuals and communities have faced systemic racism and discrimination in Canada. Recent events at home and abroad have also shown that no community is immune to the effects of hate speech. Whether it is racism and anti-Indigenous discrimination, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Blackness, or homophobia, it is clear that the Canadian government must do more to combat racism and discrimination in its various forms.
Fight Against Racism
The lines between everyday and structural racism are often blurred. Because racist images in the minds of people also affect the structure of our society. Whether in search of housing, in the labor market, in the education system or public life: the affected people face alienation and stereotypes again and again. In other words: people create everyday life, everyday life creates structures, and structures cannot be considered in isolation from people.
Recognizing that racism lives in society, and surrounds one, is an essential first step. One should always consider how systemic racism and people’s attitudes have affected individuals and their views. The experiences of marginalized groups can differ, so one should remember to use an intersectional lens when considering how different groups experience oppression. Many may feel uncomfortable, but it lays a solid foundation for exploring the complexities of racial discrimination, redefining race and culture, and redefining anti-racism.
Helping professionals argue that being a bystander to racism is an act of racism itself. That is because choosing to stand aside while benefiting from unequal systems of power results in violence that irreparably harms people of color. Relief workers for the oppressed have a crucial role in combating racial discrimination. First of all, their activities are connected with the support of those who are disadvantaged. It stimulates the use of existing laws against racism and draws attention to the problem.
References
CBC/Radio Canada. (2022). Racism in Ontario’s home buying and selling process is real. CBCnews. Web.
Downham Moore, A. M. (2022). Race, class, caste, disability, sterilisation and hysterectomy. Medical Humanities. Web.
Trawalter, S., Bart-Plange, D.-J., & Hoffman, K. M. (2020). A socioecological psychology of racism: Making structures and history more visible. Current Opinion in Psychology, 32, 47–51. Web.