Media Watch Assignment

Terri-Ann Thomas
Social Diversity in Contemporary Canada
CSRV13672
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Julie Pehar

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Article 1: Why Canada Needs Black Lives Matter

Overview

This article is about the importance of a Blacks Lives Matter movement in Canada (much

like the United States) to shed light on the police scrutiny and surveillance, racial profiling etc.

that affect black people in this country on a daily basis.

It talks about the lack of coverage and respect black people in Canada receive when they

are targeted and affected by police brutality. Instead, black people are told, “Hey, at least being

black in Canada is far better than being black in the U.S.” (Morgan, 2016, p. 2). The author

makes it clear that the idea that it’s worst in America diminishes black Canadian experiences and

is just as bad as shouting, “All Live Matter,” (Morgan, 2016, p 2) in retaliation to ‘Black Lives

Matter.”

Analysis

As a black person living in Canada, I understand all too well why this article was written

and what it could mean for racial tension between the police and minorities if we had the same

amount of coverage here as they do in America.

The consensus is that blacks living in Canada should be happy that they aren’t in

America where it would be far worst. But who gets to decide that? Why should black people

have to settle for the lesser of two evils? No one should have to be in fear during a routine traffic

stop.

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 The impact of the media is crucial for black people in Canada because without media

coverage; a lot of issues faced by this population would not have been brought to light. The

names of those senselessly killed by police officers, like Andrew Loku, Jermaine Carby and Ian

Pryce, would not have been known.

For an issue like racism, specifically police brutality and racial profiling, the media is

needed for people to be held accountable. People tend to refrain from doing bad things once they

know they are being watched. It gives the issue a platform and the opportunity to be broadcasted

to the world.

As Social Service Workers, it’s important to show empathy to this population because

until you have lived a day in their life, it’s difficult to understand their struggle. It brings me back

to the article, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” where Peggy McIntosh

describes the differences a white person and a black person faces while doing daily activities.

She writes, “I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be

followed or harassed” (McIntosh, 2012, p. 4). Until you can accept your privilege and remove

your own personal feelings and really try to imagine what it’s like to walk a day in their shoes,

you will not be able to successfully help them.

I feel that the Black Lives Matter movement is a great representation for blacks in

Canada because in the short amount of time that they have formed, there has already been media

coverage and we now are becoming aware of the struggles this population faces. I can see the

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movement growing and hope to see more people on board. As Anthony stated, it is a “call for a

new generation of fairer and transparent state-accountability mechanism” (Morgan, 2016, p. 3).

With BLM representing for this population, awareness will continue to grow.

Having Black Lives Matter groups in colleges and universities will also help black

students in Canada to feel safer and more confident while studying. They will feel they have a

voice and not feel stifled in order to conform and not be seen as abrasive or confrontational.

Although Bell Hooks was referring specifically to black women in her article, “Ain’t She Still a

Woman?” it also applies here. She gave an example of a black woman in a predominately white

corporate meeting, during a heated discussion, interrupting like everyone else, but instead is

referred to as “hostile” or “aggressive” (Bell, 2012, p. 10). If this population had more

representation like BLM, it would give them the opportunity to be themselves without feeling

judged.

Article 2: Black Lives Matter-Toronto apparently answer to nobody

Overview

This article from the Toronto Sun is about the frustration the author has for Black Lives

Matter protestors. It talks about them protesting (at places like the Pride Parade Toronto) and

causing disruptions to get their point across without them having to face any repercussions. It

also makes reference to the group protesting police brutality, but not protesting gang violence.

Analysis

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 This article is a great example of the point I made about Bell Hooks’ article. Although

they pose no threat and are simply expressing their right to protest and shed light on the brutality

black people face in Canada, their actions are described as “bullying” and “intimidating”

(Warmington, 2016, p. 2). Would they be described as something more positive had they been

white?

The exercise we did in class where we had to find definitions for the word “white” and

then find definitions for the word “black,” resonated with me because everything that represented

“black” was always more dark, gloomy and violent. Protesting, by definition, is to “publicly

demonstrate strong objection to a policy or course of action adopted by those in authority.”

(Google). That is simply what this group of individuals did which is why they were successful in

getting meetings with the chief of police and the premier etc.

This particular article was printed to diminish the movement and its cause. This is an

example of the negative side of media coverage and how it can hinder your progress. This

particular form of media has created stereotypes and did very little to educate the public on the

real issue. Why are they protesting? They touch on it but never place any importance or value on

what led this group to protest. The media has so much influence on shaping how we view and

understand the world and this article does a great job of setting the Black Lives Matter

movement back.

If more people came forward to stand up for these protesters and come to their defense,

articles portraying them as bullies would have little impact on the public. We may also see a

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decline in these types of negative articles in fear of not fitting in with the masses. I think for the

growing population of young people fighting for the rights of blacks in Canada, there has to be

more support from communities across the country.

These journalists should be held accountable for what they write and have published

because it’s detrimental to a larger population and in many cases; it has been life and death.

Although the Toronto Sun is known for being controversial, I feel that in cases of blatant racism,

there has to be a line drawn somewhere. More journalists should spend time speaking to the

families of the victims of police brutality and those families’ of people who were killed by police

to get an understanding of the pain and fear they live in. The only way to get the story right is to

tell the truth.

Article 3: Black Lives Matter is dramatic, unsettling and inconvenient. That’s the point

Overview

This article agrees that the Black Lives Matter movement isn’t going to make everyone

comfortable, it’s going to be messy and inconvenient, but there will be no apology for it. It

discusses the need for the movement to shed light on the oppression in Canada and to continue

fighting for the rights of those oppressed.

Analysis

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 This last article ties everything in and answers to the second article posted in the Toronto

Sun. This was what I meant by people coming together to defend and fight for the right to protest

and make a change for this population.

As we learned in our lesson on power relations in Week 4, there is strength in numbers.

The more people we have willing to fight against injustice, the more we can accomplish. This

Black Lives Matter movement is here in Toronto, but I hope to see it all across the country in the

years to come. The movement in the U.S. has grown so much so that social media has become a

tool to hold many people accountable for their actions. A writer for the New York Times, Shaun

King, who is also an activist, has taken the initiative to use social media tools (Facebook,

Twitter) to raise awareness. His following has grown so much so that he is able to raise money

for families affected by racial injustice just by posting fundraising links online.

We need more leaders like Shaun to join the work of Black Lives Matter in Toronto, so

the growing population of blacks in Canada have a voice and can feel comfortable to live day by

day, not worrying about being discriminated against or be racially profiled.

This article by Naila Keleta-Mae also touches on the history of oppression in Canada and

as Social Workers and people who want to help make a difference, I feel education is key. Not

only talk to individuals and understand their story, but also get educated on the history of

oppression. The more they know, the more they can offer successful solutions. I simply want to

be apart of the solution and help as many people understand what myself and others go through

on a daily basis. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it.

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 References

Goveas, Jacinta. (2012). Social Diversity In Contemporary Canada. Toronto, ON. Greenville

Print Centre.

McIntosh, Peggy. (2012). White Privilege: Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack. Wellsley College

Centre for Research for Woman.

Hooks, Bell. (2012). Ain’t She Still A Woman. Shambhala Sun. Shambhala Sun Foundation.

Morgan, Anthony. (2016). Why Canada Needs Black Lives Matter. The Toronto Star

Warmington, Joe. (2016). Black Lives Matter-Toronto Apparently Answer To Nobody. The

Toronto Sun.

Keleta-Mae, Naila. (2016). Black Lives Matter Is Dramatic, Unsettling And Inconvenient. That’s

The Point. The Globe And Mail.