We are stronger together

By Vamini Selvanandan

Death, politics and religion - three topics we are told to avoid at parties and the family dinner table. But in this age of polarization and uncivil public discourse, it is time to relearn how to have difficult conversations with kindness and mutual respect.

We can add racism to the list of uncomfortable topics. Before the murder of George Floyd, we did not speak about racism in everyday conversation, but his death and the protests that followed brought about an awakening of the horrors of racism.

Racism is a reality for Indigenous Canadians who live on average 9 years less than non-Indigenous Canadians, and a shocking 19 years less in Alberta.  Racism is also real for black men in Canada, who are incarcerated at much higher rates than white men. And racism is real for the Muslim family killed in London, Ontario while out for a walk on a beautiful summer day.  Racism is not always conscious, explicit or visible.  It is easy to recognize racial slurs, overt acts of discrimination or hate crimes but much more difficult to identify the invisible systems and structures in our society that perpetuate unfair treatment and oppression.

If racism is an iceberg, overt interpersonal racism is the small tip that is visible above the surface of the ocean. The greater bulk of systemic racism lies below the water unseen. And just as it is with an iceberg, it is the invisible part that causes the most harm. Systemic racism denies people of colour good jobs, decent housing, higher education, quality health care and fair treatment by the criminal justice system.

Real change in the lives of racialized people won’t happen until we take specific steps to include everyone in our economy, our institutions and in governance. So, what are some actions we can take towards these goals?

We can call for reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous people to move beyond words to real and we can advocate for Indigenous people to have control over their own governance, resources and land. Employers and businesses can hire racialized people for good jobs that pay a living wage, have good benefits and clear pathways for advancing their careers. 

Furthermore, all of us can leverage our personal networks, resources and spheres of influence to shift outcomes for racialized people. We can use our purchasing power in businesses owned by people of colour to buy products and services or invest our money. We can rent dwellings to racialized individuals, couples or families as they often have a hard time securing housing, and we can encourage racialized people to run for elected office and vote for them in elections.

This is not about favouring one group over another, but about levelling the playing field and including those who have been left out for far too long. When people chant “Black lives matter!” they are saying black lives matter too. When people cry out “Every child matters!” they are saying Indigenous children also matter. We must recognize the humanity in all of us and acknowledge that we are stronger when we stand together.

Vamini Selvanandan is a rural family physician and public health practitioner in Alberta.