Drew Simpson
Drew Simpson

Racist Undertones

By Drew Simpson

When we told people that we were moving to Canada, they referred to it as the “White man’s land”. Along with the snow, in Canada the most common pigment you see is white. It is the polar opposite to the situation in Jamaica. Not only are black people the majority of the population in Jamaica, but they were also the majority in Jamaican television shows, movies; most Jamaican artists are black. Moving from “black to white” is the hardest and most drastic transition anyone can make, it is a true culture shock. While Canada is seen to be a much more progressive country than its southern cousin, the United States, there are still elements of racism present in Canadian society. The only difference is that in Canada they are hidden.

Apart from the general attitude of people in Ottawa being very reserved and conservative, they tend not to tell you things directly. It causes one to look between the lines for what they truly mean. So when a black, Jamaican, teenage girl has the common descriptors of sassy, outspoken with “retro” or “cool” hair, what they really mean to say is that she is rude and does not fit into the Eurocentric standards of beauty.

Recently a person of a lighter shade found it okay to refer to my hair as being out of the current trends since “afros are for the 60s”. Firstly, I don’t have an afro; I have dense, curly hair that naturally looks voluminous. Secondly, afros are not for the 60s, since it has never been a “trend” for Black people. It is what our hair looks like when it is washed, dried and thoroughly combed. For an ignorant person of a lighter complexion to refer to my hair as out of date, when really I wear it in its natural state is the most offensive thing I have ever heard in my life.

In fact, Black hair is not out of date. Black people are not out of date. In 2016, people should be comfortable with Black skin. Making remarks such as “she’s just an angry black woman” or “I’ve never done it with a black girl before” is not just extremely ignorant but hurtful. Black women are human beings. We are not exotic animals that the world has never seen before. Black people have been around since the beginning of time, like every other race. Why are we still being treated like an attraction at a museum? Why is wearing my hair in its natural state a symbol of history or a symbol of “black power”, while if I white girl did it, it would be trendy or fashionable? I am tired of being downgraded to only a facet of what I really am. I am tired of teachers being shocked when they realize that I am an intelligent human being. I am tired of employers having that common mindset that black people are lazy and aggressive. I am tired of terms such as sassy, aggressive, retro, and wild being used to describe me. Wake up Canada! Racist jokes are still racist. Categorizing someone by their complexion or describing them using stereotypes pertaining to that same complexion is racist.

Look beyond my skin and you may be able to see the many spectrums of my individuality.

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 About the writer

My name is Drew Simpson. I’m a 17-year old girl who aspires to change the world. I’m not naive; I know world change takes many people and factors, however, one day I hope to be powerful enough to affect something bigger than me. Other than plotting the next revolution, I enjoy playing volleyball and tennis, as well as, excelling in school.