Racism in Canada Today

Term Paper # 101271

Canadian Studies > Gender, Race, Class issues
Sociology

This paper explores the definition of racism and its denial in Canadian state culture.

1,355 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper examines Frederick Ivor Case's "Racism and National Consciousness," where he presents a complex analysis of race and racism in Canada today. With reference to Case's understanding of racism as exclusion, the paper argues that racism is a covert reality of life in Canada today that is supported in a range of subtle ways by Canadian state culture. The paper shows how racism has clear economic "value" for the capitalist corporate elite of Canadian society, making challenges of anti-racist action as great as they ever were.

Outline:
Introduction
Racism as Exclusion
The Complexities of Racism
A Covert Racism
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In defining race and racism, Frederick Ivor Case presents an excellent critique of the physiological absurdity of making distinctions between people on the basis of race: "It might seem superfluous to remark that there is no such phenomenon as African blood or Chinese blood or Jewish blood, just as in the moral sense there is no such thing as good or bad blood" (Case 38). This being said, however, Case recognizes the social reality that for generations the structures of race and racism have defined life in Canada. Case's analysis of racism in the Canadian context is particularly complex given his contention that this racism has been defined historically as the "exclusion on sight, that is, by race" of non-Europeans from the Canadian collective consciousness (Case 35)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Case, Frederick Ivor. Racism and National Consciousness. Toronto: Other Eye, 2002.
Feagin, Joe; and Sikes, Melvin. "Changing the Color Line:The Future of U.S. Racism." In Racism. Ed. Martin Bulmer and John Solomos. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999, 407-411.
Gilroy, Paul. "The End of Anti-Racism." In Racism. Ed. Martin Bulmer and John Solomos. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999, 242-249.
Henslin, James M; Glenday, Dan; Duffy, Ann; and Pupo, Norene.Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. Second Canadian Edition.Toronto: Pearson Education, 2002.
Itwaru, Arnold Harrichand. "Glorious and Free...We Stand on Guard for Thee." In Itwaru, Arnold Harrichand and Ksonzek, Natasha, eds. Closed Entrances: Canadian Culture and Imperialism. Toronto: TSAR, 1994, 54-67.