From Far and Wide

..we see thee rise, the True North, strong and *free*

I grew up on these words. I mean I can’t even remember learning them; I’ve just always known them.

Canada has always been the country of dreams to me. In debates with friends from the USA I’ve never wavered in my devotion to my homeland.

When I lived in Africa as an child/adolescent/teenager I learned about racism, but I never for a second connected racism to my native land, Canada. It angered me when white people, most of whom were from the United States, were disparaging and superior. I took it personally and knew that their behaviours toward and superstitious about people of any colour but their own was stupid and horrible. It  felt like they were treating me that way. I realize now that I really did feel like I was at least somewhat black; my Malawian friends helped me feel that way, often telling me that I had a « black heart » which, to this day, is still one of the best compliments I have ever received. Racism was terrible. But at least Canadians weren’t racist.

Ten years later,  I now know that is absolutely not true. I’ve learned a lot about my country in the years since we moved back to Canada. In that time I officially quit going to school and set foot in the real world. . I became a teacher and was privileged to be able to introduce today’s children to Canada’s history -not only the history of white Canadians, but also the often unacknowledged history of the First Nations People. Unfortunately, I have witnessed racism and prejudice that had been ingrained in their brains since ? birth?

My family who, before living in Africa had been involved almost only with people similar to us, integrated into a Canadian community that involved more than people of our culture and race. Becos of this we have sometimes been held somewhat in contempt by others. I think every person in my family has been witness to unashamedly racist conversations or situations and let our anger take over in an explosive tirade of defence.

This is Canada today. A whole country of prejudice where racism not only exists but also racism against people who fight racism. How many tangled layers is there to the blanket of racism so many of us burrow our heads in ?

I love my country. I feel the freedom spoken about in our beautiful national anthem. But not everyone does. And not everyone has. I’m celebrating Canada Day this year in contemplation and not so much celebration.

Disclaimer. I do not know what racism feels like. I only know that I have witnessed it for years and I am so happy that Canadians are finally starting to acknowledge it.  I want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.