Not Black and White

What We Choose To Remember

Prior to living in Quebec I was not conscious of systemic discrimination. At high school there were jocks, motor-heads, hipsters and book-worms who formed distinct tribes but we each chose our identities. After arriving in Quebec to study at the National Theatre School my primary identity was not ‘theatre´ but ‘Anglo.’ Although I have no ancestors who ever lived in Quebec I discovered I must henceforth bear the weight of Quebec’s fraught history, from the British Conquest on through every act of Anglo domination, oppression, humiliation and betrayal. That was part of the reason I have spent decades studying Quebec history, and it inspired me to create a series of documentary films about Anglos and Allophones in Quebec. (You can view the feature length film at its webpage whatwechoosetoremember.ca)

“Francois Legault has repeatedly insisted that there is no systemic racism in Quebec. His reason? He chooses not to believe personal testimonies or compelling data.”

February is Black History Month, which originated in the USA in 1915 to ‘recognize the important contribution made to our nation’s life and culture by black citizens.’ Canada recognized February as Black History Month in 1995 following a motion in the House of Commons introduced by Dr. Jean Augustin, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament. I’m sure there were long, heated debates back in 1915 about whether Black History should directly confront the damage caused by racism rather than simply ‘recognize important contributions.’ We can all feel good about celebrating the contributions of Black Quebecers such as Oscar Peterson, Oliver Jones, Yolande James, Marlene Jennings and many others. The problem with recognizing a minority group’s ‘important contributions’ is that the dominant community can tell itself, ‘There is no discrimination here. Look how we welcome minority groups and celebrate their achievements!’ No matter how laudable the recognition, it does little for the anonymous others not recognized.

“Quebec’s Francophones feel outnumbered and vulnerable within North America. Anglos feel outnumbered and vulnerable within Quebec.”

Premier François Legault is proud that Québec recognizes the accomplishments of people like Dany Laferrière and Michaëlle Jean and he has repeatedly insisted that there is no systemic racism in Quebec. His reason for this assertion? He has never seen it and chooses not to believe personal testimonies or compelling data. I would like to ask Premier Legault if he thinks Canada is guilty of systemic discrimination against Quebec. His personal experience and his data would lead him to a different answer.

Quebec’s Francophones feel outnumbered and vulnerable within North America. Anglos feel outnumbered and vulnerable within Quebec. BIPOC communities feel both discriminated against and ignored by the two ‘founding peoples’ too busy bickering between themselves to make room for other priorities. This diversity of discrimination should make us mutually empathetic

Martin Luther King Jr famously said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” In a rational world all of us who live in Quebec should not only agree with Dr. King’s vision but put it into practice, recognizing that the human race does not consist of simplistic black and white categories but of individual people who share hopes, dreams, disappointments and hurts, and who merit equal opportunities and respect.

I am familiar with the argument that systemic problems cannot be solved at the grassroots level by individual efforts, yet that should not prevent us from making individual efforts to change what we can where we can. I am also aware that human nature is easily pulled and pushed toward tribalism and discrimination. I invite you to consider what you, personally, can do differently as we celebrate Black History Month.

Guy Rex Rodgers was founding Executive Director of the English Language Arts Network (ELAN) and recently returned to filmmaking. You can reach Guy at: [email protected]