Journey to Justice: Race and Racism in Canada

Journey to Justice: Race and Racism in Canada

INTRODUCTION

Journey to Justice is a documentary about six unsung heroes of fight to civil rights for all people regardless of the ethnic group in Canada. These heroes include Viola Desmond, Fred Christ, Hugh Burnett, Ray Lewis, Stanley Grizzle, and Donald Willard. The “Journey to Success” documentary explores the challenges through which African revolutionist in Canada went through to achievement of the equality policies. The documentary portrays African oppression and discrimination in three significant dimensions, which include historical tyranny, ideological and cultural oppression, and institutional oppression. Besides, the films detail the roles that were played by notable players who aided in ending the discrimination based on race in Canada. It shows how different individuals played a part in the removal of discriminatory practices and laws within the nation. Through the use of interviews as well as video footage in the documentary, the situation of the inequality in Canada amongst the Black is revealed. The narrative acknowledgment is set back to the 1930s and 1950s struggles of a group of six individuals who took a stand to refuse inequality amongst the Black in Canada (Canada, 2020). This paper aimed at reflecting on historical oppression, ideological and cultural oppression, and institutional abuse that exists in the Canadian, as shown in the Journey to Justice Documentary.

In the documentary, Ray Lewis is seen to win a medal back in the 1932 Olympics. Despite this man’s success, he was denied an opportunity to become a coach based on racial discrimination (Canada, 2020). Instead, ray remained as a porter of the work he was doing before winning a medal. Likewise, racism is perceived in the documentary when Fred Christy fails to be served in a bar in Montreal. To cater to his denied rights, Christy took his case to the Canadian Supreme court. The aspect of institutional oppression is evident as the court ruled against him. The decision by the court allowed for service denial of minority groups in Canada.

            Further historical oppression is seen when a black soldier within the segregated unit is denied to enlist during the second world war outbreak even after serving the Canadian army with distinction. The documentary as well reveals an instance when Stanley Grizzle is denied access to three hotels after having a marriage. The couples ended up spending their night with their family relatives. Another institutional injustice against Black is evident in the documentary when Viola Desmond was discriminated in a movie theatre where she was pushed to stay at the balcony, which was designated for the Black. She refused, which resulted in calling the police by the management. It was sad that the manager went ahead and physically dragged Viola out of the theatre. Once more, in the documentary, Black loses as she tries to fight her conviction.

In response to excessive oppression among the black people, it is seen in the documentary that porters organized and formed a union in 1945.  It was then that the Black was given a voice to air their grievances against abuses they experienced within the workplaces. Hug Burnett managed to form the National Unity Association, which aimed at fighting discrimination amongst the black people.  In 1947, it was revealed in the documentary that the association pressured the town council of Dresden to enact equality within the law (Canada, 2020). It was unfortunate that when a referendum was called, the majority sided with restraint owners. Later, the rest of the minority groups joined hands with the association in the fight. Together, they presented their grievances to the Ontario legislature in which Premier Leslie frost took and stand with them regardless of having no support of his cabinet.

Following Premier’s support, discrimination within the house, as well as in the workplace, was banned in Ontario as early as the 1950s (Canada, 2020). In their test of the law, two black patrons happened to go to a restaurant at Dresden, but once again, they were denied service.  It was evident in the documentary that the owner of this restaurant was fined Fifty dollars; however, like many other instances of institutional racism, the restaurant owner won the case on appeal. However, the association never stopped the fight to inequality. They went on to test the behavior of the white against Black in the restaurants, and finally, the policy was affected by the minorities.

According to the film of race and racism, race and racism can affect the way people are hired and promoted, services they receive, and how people interact in different organizations. The racism is challenged when the engagement sessions were held across Canada. This was to gather information or inputs, especially from those with long race and racist experiences. The engagement session brought together people from different ethnic groups and organizations. It was in partnership with indigenous peoples and community groups. Besides, it is essential to introduce the strategy of anti-racism, which will help in building awareness of the origin of racism. Moreover, this strategy will empower all the Canadians to draw on the life experiences that will assist in creating a more accepting and racism-free country. It is also essential for the government and other non-government organizations to boost funding to promote and support the community initiatives that aim at reducing racism.

Furthermore, the Canadian government should also be committed to diversity and inclusion and working together in the elimination of racism in the country. They should also take action across the federal government to help make in Canadians lives. This is through addressing the systemic barriers and particular challenges that might promote racism.

Conclusion

The film of race and racism in Canada has clearly shown cases of oppression in Canada. Canada has a long history of racism as her population is characterized by different races from different corners of the world. Therefore the government of Canada and other non-government organizations should work together to curd the racism in Canada as diversity is the source of Canadian power.

Reference

Reference

Canada, N. (2020). Journey to Justice. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 13 February

2020, from https://www.nfb.ca/film/journey_to_justice/.