Centering Black Youth Wellbeing
This virtual community of practice explores ways to center the wellbeing of Black young people and their... View more
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Why is anti-Black racism still a problem in Ontario?
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Why is anti-Black racism still a problem in Ontario?
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I think why anti-black racism continues is because is it a complex issue with many strands. It is the dragon with many tails and heads. So I feel our job is to persist and continue to listen and share, educate and share, learn and share, work and share, live and share. Enveloping the dragon in the fiery light is when the fire of the dragon will diminish.
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Racism is not just an issue in Ontario issue as the vast majority of Canadians remain ignorant of Canada’s role in the degrading treatment of Black people. We look at the polarization of racism and supremacist behaviours in the US and say we are glad Canada is not like that when in fact Canada has its own skeletons in the closet. There is also the premise that if Blacks and other marginalized communities are to have more than they currently do then other communities will become less than. There has been lots of research, focus groups and studies conducted over the years that have revealed the many disparities in Black communities yet here we are wondering “why after decades of research and escalating evidence of racial inequities, anti-Black racism remains a significant and troubling reality in Ontario”.
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Until we all recognize that Anti-Black Racism and other forms of racism is an issue that affects us all there cannot be irradiation.
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Along with the many reasonings presented in the module, I believe racism persists in Canada because of our proximity to the USA, our reference point when it comes to comparing our selves with others is often our neighbor the USA. In the USA we see more blatant forms of racism – while in Canada the problem of racism is much more subtle. When racism is blatant it is easier to spot that there is an obvious problem. Once we acknowledge a problem we can work to a solution. However, when racism or a problem in general is subtle to the point where we even question ourselves of “is that racist or am I misunderstanding something?” or the racism persists via underlying tones it becomes much more difficult to pinpoint the actual problem leading for it to be more challenging to work towards a solution/education.
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I feel like Anti-Black Racism is still a problem in Ontario because not many people realize how we have been set to think the Eurocentric way. When some are blinded by it, we don’t realize the harm it is doing. Some may not realize or even know how deep Anti- Black Racism is routed. Until we start having those conversations and making active change, this will continue to be a problem in Ontario. We have to recognize that it has to start with the system. We have to acknowledge the barriers and allow Black voices to be heard. Until Ontarians are willing to have Black voices be heard and allow for change to occur in the system, this will continue to be a problem. There has to be a way to allow Black voices to be heard and where we can be an ally, that doesn’t create more harm.
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In my opinion, anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario due to the societal and institutional racism as well as the microaggressions, biases and white supremacy that continue to exist in our society. Reiterating the data mentioned in the module such as higher rates of Black unemployment, discrimination in employment/promotions in Black employees and the Black community is 20 times more likely to be killed by police, also demonstrates why it is a significant problem.
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I agree… If you don’t talk about it… its not real. Up until recent few years I would have said Ontario is progressive and racism does not exist in the same light as it does in others places. I was wrong, very wrong.
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I agree LeeAnn, I think it’s safe to say that we are all victims of thinking that way and comparing our surroundings to other places. I too sometimes catch myself seeing the injustice towards the black community that happens in America and thanking God that its not here, but the true fact is that it is here. We might just be better at hiding it.
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If we do not identify that anti-Black racism is a problem here in Ontario, or Canada even, then it will continue to prevail. Canada is known as the friendly, polite, apologetic country. Racism tends to be thrown very subtly and it is spoken in a very soft whisper and served with a well intentioned smile. The comments about “those people” and “I am not racist but”, comments that is supposed to excuse anything else that comes after that disclaimer phrase. Those who are experiencing it tend to ignore the racist as best as they can, to keep moving forward in spite of. While the racists do not see anything wrong with their behaviour, as their privilege affords them certain power.
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For sure! I hear those same comments a lot as well Andrea. It’s so easy for Canadians to compare themselves with others in regards to racism, but I look at it as a way for Candaians to make themselves feel better, which in itself enables racist mindsets and indivduals to take pride in their behaviour.
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I believe anti-Black racism continues to prevail in Ontario and more greatly, Canada as Canadians cling to the ideals of multiculturalism, cognitive dissonance and the notion of “white exceptionalism” as mentioned by Dr.Vidya Shah in lecture 1.3. As Canada is continually compared to our southern neighbors (arguably the less racially intolerable part of North America), the United States, the branding of Canada as “friendly, progressive, democratic” really feeds into the prides of Canadians. Similarly, with the finely curated history shown and taught to Canadians, many fail to see how our current systems oppressed and benefitted from the efforts and lives of Indigenous, Blacks and other racialized groups. In turn, the Canadian identity of “niceness and politeness” provides many with a sense of comfort and ignorance. Sure, we [as Canadians] might have systemic racism and sure, we might inherently hold biases both conscious and unconscious, but as long as we are not “overtly” racist and the world continues to celebrate our commitment to “multiculturalism” and our “accepting demeanor,” than racism will never be a “Canadian” problem (or at least a large enough, visible problem that needs to be addressed). The “Canadian identity” will be enough of a protective factor in the face of cognitive dissonance that Canadians in the face of racism will simply reinforce the notion that “I’M not racist like that, our country prides itself on our diversity!” This singularity feeds into the idea that racists are anomalies, the mediation/exemption of racism within oneself as we tend “not” to engage in overt racism as we are “nice,” and the belief that “multiculturalism is somehow equivalent to inclusion” as stated by Dr. Andrea Davis in lecture 1.4.
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Jenny, I completely agree with your thoughts about clinging to ideals.
As someone who moved through secondary and post-secondary education very recently I was struck by how much of the history detailed by Michele Johnson in lecture 1.2 was completely excluded from the curriculums I was exposed to in school. Instead, as you rightly say, The United States was used as the foil to glorify Canada’s history by comparison: Canada was the “cultural mosaic” and a safe-haven. I agree that the political ideal of multiculturalism is a further signifier of our collective denial. My true education only came from having family who were able to impart their experiences after immigrating from the Caribbean to Canada in the 1960’s. To those who do not have access to interpersonal or intergenerational experiences but were exposed to the same formal education I was, I could see how it would be extremely easy and attractive to internalize the narrative of “we’re nice, we’re the peace keepers, we don’t do that here” and that in itself is a huge part of the problem. I agree with the sentiments of so many in this discussion that our education system needs to absorb and include the history that Michele Johnson so expertly shared.
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I feel as though anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario because people continue to acknowledge it exists but don’t commit to making changes. I think back to a workplace I was once at and we had ongoing educationals at staff meetings about anti-Black racism. There were employees who would complain and say things like ‘we already know this’, ‘why are we talking about this again’? We had some really good conversations around knowledge being powerful but not helpful without commitment for action and change.
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Thank you sharing your experience Michelle. This actually helped remind me of the approach my own workplace used to have. Even though everyone had similar knowledge about anti black racism and the barriers that even my workplace could have changed over time, still no action was taken until recently. So I can defnitily relate to that.
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Because there is a knowing/doing gap. We know there are inequities. We know anti-Black racism is a problem. There is a lack of political will to do what community leaders have called for to create change. I liked that this was reflected in the module on data. Black, Indigenous and other people of colour have been consulted so many times. If you’re going to consult, be prepared to actually do something with the data collected, and do it from a bottom-up approach, in true collaboration with Black communities.
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You can say that again!
Unfortunately, talking and theorizing often replaces action and change rather than complimenting it.
We have industries built on the exploiting Black youth and we have industries and careers built on recycling “nuanced” discourses about the said exploitation – and these industries are all cousins… related and rooted in the same system and culture of repression.
The “bottom up” approach is excluded as the self-righteous social justice initiatives both protest and protect system-level injustice.
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In my opinion, anti-Black racism continues to be a problem in Ontario, as government and society are unwilling to acknowledge the years of oppression that the black community has faced and continues to face. The government refuses the make the many suggestions brought forth by black leaders, statistics and government findings that would stop in the oppression of this marginalized community.
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Anti-black racism remains a prominent concern in Ontario because of the historical violence against black people stemming from colonialism and slavery. Anti-black racism is embedded within our institutions and everyday practices. It is manifested in every aspect of our social systems (education, justice, healthcare) and is often implicit in policies that serve to disadvantage black people while reinforcing white supremacy. This is exactly why representation is so important. To even attempt to change institutions, we need to start with black representation and voices in positions with decision making authority.
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YESSS! Well said Tarena,
Great point shedding light on the importance of black representation in positions related to authority. There aren’t enough black faces and voices within our social system such as the education system, justice system and healthcare, which I feel leaves a large gap for racist people to implement such services and policies.
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In my opinion anti-Black racism is still a problem because Canadians as a whole are in denial of its existence and lack the education to better understand the complexity of it. When I was in school we were taught the “myths” of the Black community, as in Canada saved the slaves. When in fact we were never properly informed that Canadians too were slave owners and that Canada attempted to erase their heritage. To move forward together we must acknowledge the atrocities done onto the black community and begin educating our children from a young age so that they become informed citizens as opposed to grow in ignorance to anti-Black racism. It should no longer be acceptable to be “tolerant” of the black community. Our leaders must pave the way and begin educating in elementary school, which is often contradictory to the opinions of Canadians that oppose government action to address this issue. There have been many studies pertaining to this issue but very little done to address the findings. This vortex of ignorance will continue if the findings of the numerous studies are not addressed.
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Wow! Well said Erika.
I 100% agree with this. We have to start educating our children from a young age on the TRUTH about our history. What has and still is going on in this world to get them better equipped for certain situations they will encounter. They need to acknowledge that their only doing our youth harm when they try to hide and cover up the truth.
You stated your opinion very beautifully.
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This weeks module was really great ,I found it to be incredibly informative and real. One thing that really resonated with me was to actively listen and believe Black youth. We can not combat anti-blackness in Ontario without first acknowledging and believing Black experiences.
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Hi Gera,
It’s great to hear that you felt the recent modules were informative and brought realness. I completely agree with you on that!. Black voices continuously get shut out or ignored and their stories/experiences aren’t taken into account. Your point is so true, in order to actually combat anti black racism we need to start by believing in our black youth.
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From personal experience and research, I believe that anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario because our nation systemically believes that racism here is “non-existent” and that Canada is a welcoming “melting pot” of culture. This nation’s belief that Canada accepting of multiculturalism has ingrained itself into the policies that operate our province.
Historically, our nation has always denied its strong legacy of colonialism, oppression, and marginalization of BIPOC communities. Why Canada remains willfully blind to this history is something that I’ve always about especially since when speaking about racism, it is often referred to as an American issue, not a Canadian one.
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Great point! Because we scapegoat here in Canada with zero accountability with several turkeys that have Talking heads. The Blame game / “peace keeping” I suppose is the very mosaic that makes “Canada” a indigenous name but the colonizers claim!
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Because policymakers are doing very little to dismantle it, people still operate under the notion that it does not exist and refuse to address or call it what it is when it takes place.
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Well said Efe,
That’s very true!
Unfortunately policymakers do have an important role in combating anti black racism, yet choose to ignore the signs and continue to operate in that manner. Them having such power and control it should have a bigger responsibility to think and behave in a way that will protect people of colour in all aspects.
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Hello Everyone,
As a late responder to the group catching up and figuring out the navigation through this system I’d like to firstly respond “YES”!!!
I myself am an Afro Indigenous Adult born to this country whose constant denial and erasure of my history has made me “an Angry, Insobordinate Loud Black Woman“. I am so tired of also justifying myself or the racism that myself, ancestors and now child sufferer in a deep seeded way to other members of my Diaspora. Whiteness and Ignorance always defeat any real unity amongst us as even a community. Some black people dont identify “as Black” making this a more complex issue to further dissect or even advocate for based on mere appearance.
It is my full fledged suggestion that in order to eleviate this Ignorance for all we MUST attack and change our Colonial Written laws. If the Laws that oversea us are RACIST we will never defeat its context.
I’ll leave the satement here boldly for further discussion…
Best Regard,
Alexis
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Greetings Alexis – Yes, Boldness is necessary to promote change.
As I reflect on your statement, I think about the many laws that were founded to protect the property and entitlement of a few instead of justice for the people… and “justice” seems to only be blind towards the trespassers who have access and privilege (with the exception of making examples of people who fall out of line).
Systemic (intentional and ongoing coordination based on resourced special interests) injustice is protected by colonial culture… the old narrative that the power brokers are “civilized, polite and doing everything for the greater good” and those who are under that power are either “noble” (obedient) or “savages” (disruptive) who endanger everyone if not controlled. It is a contradictory idea that is present in formal institutions and our daily interactions in this dehumanizing culture.
Even to suggest that organized repression should be attacked can create anxiety for many people – but not fear of the great harm caused by this repression, but fear of the protesters and advocates of justice. For instance, many Black women who are consistently innovating, organizing and building a better world are underestimated, devalued and sabotaged routinely… even for advocating for justice for children in a school setting… but the school system is given time and resources and Black parents are left with the weight of battling not only that school but all the institutions and cultural judgments surrounding it. Therefore, someone who is (in essence) only Defending their rights is in turn Attacked by this system of culture and institutions (and pre-judiced individuals) and framed to be the aggressor.
It is bold to take a stance against insidious issues because there are real consequences for those who stand.
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And Bam sir there you have it! I appreciate the elaborative context in which you presented it! My statement was that of a first hand experience stemming from birth til this day! My wishes are that we unify to actually demand these changes now so that we can truly discuss change and what “changes” affect our lives in a positive way. It is at this point that the denial of these complexed barriers , denials and further denial of existence to Afro indigenous peoples that stands before them in human flesh.
If I a young adult mother can feel this imagine all the youth I’ve worked with, encountered or even passed by … how must they feel with all this burden on them … so vulnerable, innocent yet packaged and prejudged. I was one of those adults who wasn’t taught the system rather to be a free thinker. It has gotten me labeled , dismissed from jobs like garbage, I’ve had program ideas and documentary film ideas stolen from me by some of this cities most respected yet I remain the problem? These narratives must change …
My son is gifted… I sent him to French immersion for his first 4 years which actually was detrimental to him. Let me explain , here in Canada the French immersion system although public it is still separate. He had a Parisienne teacher who was not only stern but downright racist. It ruined his experience leading him to start “misbehaving” to a level they called George Hull, we went through that and George Hull said my son was completely fine but suffering grief (from loss) and quite frankly stressed. Now we go through Middle School non immersion and he’s getting A’s , teachers giving rave reviews then his father dies of a heart attach at 35 … here we go again not only is this his loss it’s a loss to a piece of my unsettled healing as well. So we scaffold all these recollections and as mother and son are expected to wear masks to show sanity to the world when we are literally dying inside. Highschool hits the behaviors become more amplified and expulsion because of attendance happens they send him to a remedial school he’s bored with and completes tasks in seconds with high honor. The school is much further and more difficult for him to get too abd no transportation provided another burden on a single parent mother making ends meat. It’s these stories we keep in and they never get heard or spoken off… It was also not to long ago I was racially profiled with my son while leaving a funeral for a family member -only to be targeted 8 guns to my face and my son being thrown to the floor like a rag doll with a knee very close to the neck apologizing to me for something he never did! This is bold and blatant systemic racism hidden by “Canada the great” !!!
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Thank you for sharing. This is no game.
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Anti-Black Racism is still a problem in Ontario because people refuse to acknowledge that our systems are rooted in white, colonial privilege and power that seek to oppress all groups that do not belong in the dominant group. We talk about change, but we need to dismantle our systems, like education, and rebuild them creating a space for people to exist and thrive without predetermination or categorization.
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It is still a reality because the foundation was set in a historical and cultural context making it a part of the fiber of the society at hand and persistent. Black people have been minimized, mistreated and abused. This is why we are all here, and why this course and community of youth workers and educators exists. The underground railroad implied that Canada was a safe haven for enslaved Black people and therefore it must be safe for all Black people. Anti-Black sentiment in Canada, at some point, was hiding under the surface. Like a lounging giant (and I use lounging not sleeping purposely because anti-Black racism has always been there, but lessened by the myths that surround identity in this country) every so often showing its ugliness but still protected by all the “Canadiana” and myth of the gentle neighbor to the North. That is why it is still a problem, not just in Ontario but across the country.
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Anti- Black Racism is still a problem in a Ontario because the systematic structure and policies are still in grained in racism. I really enjoyed learning about the history of racism between the US and Canada and how NOT so far apart the two countries are regarding how they treat people of colour. In Canada I believe there is sometimes this politeness which in turn is actually microaggression and biases that individuals consciously or unconsciously display to towards people of colour. I am a Canadian born , parents are immigrants from the West Indies, I have experienced racism first hand in my work environment, microaggression from white males and females in power, even when I was trying to rent an apartment I was discriminated. I have experienced racism in my worth as a professional, almost sending a message you don’t belong, or you are not worthy to be in a certain position of power. I always feel there is that underlying sense of power whites exhibit , again whether they know are not, It feels uncomfortable, makes you feel less then, bringing it back to my first sentence the institutions, education, social services, government policies and makers all need to be inclusive in order for Ontario to change POWER has to change, people of colour need to have a voice at the head tables were change actually happens. A question that comes to mind is who actually cares about us the black people of this country, why don’t we not have power in certain aspects of our lives still to this day.
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I believe and have learned that anti- Black racism is still persistent in Ontario for several reasons. Individuals often remain ignorant to the structural and historical roots of anti-Black racism that is prevalent in education curriculums and systems, the health care systems, legal system, employment structures, welfare systems etc. and see anti-Black racism as a purely individual issue. I also think thank the lack of education and acknowledgement of Canada’s history and present and individuals lack of accountability to self reflect and seek out additional information continues to cause anti-Black racism in Ontario.
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All of these responses are key as to why anti-Black racism remains a significant and troubling reality in Ontario and elsewhere. I have learned more history here in these modules than in all my years of educational forums. The persistent silence of Black and Indigenous history in education offered to generations of youth is complicit in the maintenance of racial inequities.
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I definitely agree with you on that. I have learnt so much throughout this training and discussion with everyone than I’ve ever learnt.
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As I moved through this module, it was very upsetting to me to realize that most of the history I have learned in school in regards to institutional racism and the historical roots of racism in general, has been through an “American lens”. I valued this module so much as it taught me about important historical Canadian figures and their contributions. It is quite shameful that I was so unaware of many of these individuals.
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Same!
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I think many people in Ontario think “it doesn’t happen here” or “I don’t think that way, so it doesn’t exist for me”. Those are ignorant thoughts and we need to do better at educating everyone that racism STILL EXISTS and it needs to stop!
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I also look at it as being over-optimist about racism as a whole. It can be very harmful and can cloud our minds towards the truth. I feel like people focus so much on the fact that racism isn’t necessarily the same as it was back in the days (slavery, cotton felids and physical mistreatment) that it then leads them to think that it may not even exist anymore because they don’t see it.
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I think about the types of information I am often reading re: ABR, and it is often coming out of the USA, as such, it makes it easy to dismiss it as an issue in Ontario / Canada, and only consider it in a US perspective. I also often think about the College Humor video titled “Diet Racism” which I think is often the perception in Ontario / Canada – based on conversations I have, there is the acceptance that racism exists here, BUT it’s not as bad as in the US so people feel okay with the status quo – these conversations extend to the black youth I work with.
<font face=”inherit”>I also reflect on the history that we </font>receive<font face=”inherit”> in our education system, which is incredibly white washed, and how people think that because of the Underground Railway, that Canada was somehow a safe haven for black slaves fleeing the US, and as such, we couldn’t perpetuate racism. I think this narrative has persisted, and Canada’s multicultural campaign ingrains this narrative further. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>So despite the evidence that is presented, the dominate narrative that persists allows people to turn a blind eye to what is actually taking place in people’s lives that contradict that narrative. </font>
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Anti-black racism is and will continue to be a problem because Black children, youth and families are dealing with structural racism within our Society such as the school, system, child welfare system and the police system. All these system often criminalized and/or pathologized black families or black communities. There is also the institutional policies and procedures which they used as protection from the accountability of racism and oppression.
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*claps* Well said!
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After learning from the lectures, what I find scary is that often we conceptualize racism as an individual act and fail to recognize how deeply rooted it has been not only on an individual level, but also historically, institutionally, educationally and systemically. It’s difficult to change what we don’t recognize.
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Hi Kelvin,
I think you’re right. At the same time, perhaps that’s why individuals think that they cannot do anything or make a difference on their own when there are so many more larger structures and systems at work that are contributing to anti-Black racism. Perhaps that’s where the advocacy piece can come in?
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💯Truth!
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ABR still exists in Ontario because of policies such as the Multiculturalism Act. The Multicultural Act highlights and celebrates inclusion and acceptance, not racism. But the reality is that these policies that helped form our identity as a province, work to make ABR invisible and hides the real nature of racism in our Province.
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Very true Patrice! Even though these policies and acts are put into place to shed light on what the population of our country looks like, at the end of the day it still ends up hiding racism with have in our country today. I feel like this act was put into place as a way to say”see this shows we care about the diversity and multiculturalism within ur societies”, without any actions.
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I don’t feel equipped to properly answer this question, but since it has been put out to participants, I’m guessing it’s okay to give answers from a place of learning. I would say that Anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario due to white supremacy. As a white person who grew up in Southwestern Ontario, I can say that I was raised to be completely unaware of my own race, and to perceive other races as different and somehow inferior, all while being completely oblivious to how problematic my views were, and also believing that there was no way that me or my family could be racist. I wrongly understood that a racist was simply a person who outwardly demonstrated aggression to people of colour, and that “nice” people who kept their negative thoughts and feelings about Black, Indigenous and People of Colour concealed (even to themselves) were “good” and therefore not racist. Reflecting on my upbringing now, I can see all of the problematic behaviours that were very accepted in my white community and extremely problematic, from racist jokes, to excluding people from groups, work, and social activities because they did not seem to “fit” within what I now understand as whiteness. Although I have spent a lot of time learning about race and white supremacy, I still feel like my journey is somehow still just beginning. The more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know. That scares me, but what scares me more is the fact that I am the only member of my white family that has even begun the journey. My siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins still prefer to consider themselves “nice” and too ill-equipped to grapple with the concept of race, and use all kinds of defensive tactics to avoid the conversation. On the other hand, I have also failed. Out of fear of rejection or anger from my family, my attempts to talk about race have been feeble, and I have allowed myself to be shouted down and silenced time and time again. Despite all of the progress made by Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, in bringing the issues of white supremacy, racism and Anti-Black Racism to light in this province, my family remains in the dark, and I fear that this is the case for many white families across the province, especially those who live and work in predominantly white communities, and thus very isolated from meaningful conversations about race, and anyone who might hold them accountable. If I can make any small contribution to combatting Anti-Black Racism in Ontario, I feel it will be a life-long endeavour to continually educate myself, and challenge whiteness in my own family and community, which will likely result in more people avoiding me; a small price to pay in comparison to the injustices suffered by Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in my community and province. I promise to use what I have learned in this course to do better, and I sincerely hope our collective efforts make change in Ontario.
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Mike, I really appreciate the honest reflection on your personal experience as a white person grappling with the complexities of race, whiteness and white supremacy. I can certainly say that I too, lived much of my earlier years with a blindfold over my eyes, and now that I have taken the blindfold off, I realize how much unlearning and learning I need to do. I can very much relate with your comment, “the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know”. While I often feel overwhelmed that I am only in the infant stages of my journey to becoming an anti-racist, I am grateful for the humility I have gained throughout this process. When it comes to dealing with racist family members, this can be an incredibly challenging situation to navigate, but I have found progress in planting seeds over time. Though time has been of the essence to attack this issue, strategic delivery remains an important aspect when dealing with our covert or overt racist white folks. A helpful saying that I learned from an incredibly brilliant Black, queer, activist was “instead of calling folks out, call them into the movement.” I hope you can find as much power in the statement as I have.
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I have been struggling with how to answer this question as well. Reading your reflections on your upbringing, and the struggles faced in confronting white supremacy and racisim with friends and family struck a chord with me and helped me properly frame what I was feeling as I learn through these modules.
There is a massive disconnect between individuals who percieve themselves to be “not racist” but continue to utilize their privilege and whiteness to prosper, while failing to grasp the systemic nature of the problems facing BIPOC communitites. We all have to work together to solve these issues and break down barriers.
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Thank you for sharing these reflections, Mike. Engaging from a place of learning is important, and I agree that this learning – and unlearning – is something we must recommit to every day.
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I believe that ABR is still a problem in Ontario because racism against blacks is not recognized as a systematic-real issue. Based on the our limited knowledge of history, Ontario was and is still viewed as a protected/safe haven for slaves and blacks. We focus so much on the United States that we often neglect what’s happening in our own Country and society.
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The ideology behind thinking that Canada is all peaches and roses has definitely always been an issue that has increased the levels of ignorance towards the discrimination and racism towards black people.
I agree Julie, Canadians are so busy comparing themselves to the United States to make them look better that they end up neglecting what’s actually happening right here in their own country.
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