How Racism Has Affected Youth and Children in Canada - Essay Example

Introduction.

This paper examines how Racism has affected youth and children in Canada. Racism has been on the front line for a long time now. What stands out is the issue experienced by many non-white Canadians, and it's a common issue. In James W. St. G. Walker's book, "Racial Discrimination in Canada: The Black Experience," it's clear that racial discrimination has existed for centuries. Under Martin Luther King in the 1950s and 1960s during the highly published black American freedom struggling. John Diefenbaker, the Prime Minister in 1960, declared during a Commonwealth Conference that Racism was unacceptable and was condemned by many Canadians. His comment in that meeting and the North Star myth prevented the inner examination of the situations that Canadian blacks faced. It blinded Canadians that Canadian blacks were not going through Racism, and they were satisfied with their job. In the 1970s, there were stories of violence that were racially-motivated from the Canadian white extremists. Statistical studies showed that non-white Canadians experienced more unemployment, low payments, and more mediocre job promotions than Canadian whites. Canadian non-white reported unequal treatment in the job industry, housing, and accessing general services.

Factors that led to Racism.

Socio-Economic factors.

Socio-Economic factors have led to racial discrimination in health though not directly. Many black Canadians are on the lower bracket of the income group (Brunner, 2007, pg. 70-80). Low social-economic status decreases the power of the society. When a community has little power, it can be controlled by the government and the privileged as they are in need. When an organization is managed, every section of their life is dependent on someone or something; jobs are not available, and when they are these people are poorly paid, and since they do not have an option, they take what they have for them to feed their families (Hardeman, R. R., Medina, E. M., & Kozhimannil, K. B. 2016, pg. 150-177).

Accountability.

There is a lack of accountability, not only by the responsible institutions but also by the Canadian government. There was an article of a black six-year-old girl whose wrists and ankles were shackled to a chair, and the school allowed it. It shows the extreme that those who are supposed to make our children feel secure and safe are willing to go. It does not matter what this six-year-old girl did, but the psychological trauma inflicted in this child's life will be with her for the rest of her life. Also, with the story of the children aid system that put a child refugee from Somalia into foster care for years and never applied for Canadian citizenship made me mad. It's the responsibility of the Children's aid to make sure that these refugee children are well taken care of, and their future is better. The child who was adopted was deported back in Somalia as a grown man causing psychological trauma as he was taken from the life he knows to a new place. It is the type of negligence that happens when it comes to blacks in Canada. If the government can be accountable and hold institutions responsible, things would be different (Hardeman, R. R., Medina, E. M., & Kozhimannil, K. B. 2016, pg. 150-177).

Under-representation.

There is an under-representation of radicalized groups in the medical profession. Healthcare system services provided and the delivery models that are employed are shaped and redefined by the health professionals and administrators in the health system. (Ansell, D. A. & McDonald, E. K, 2015, pg. 76-82). There have been deliberate under-representation of the minority group in this sector. Not because the black Canadians have not had the same type of education but because white Canadians are placed in the front line leaving the minority to do the manual jobs. Who would realize that there is inequality in the health service provision if most of the medical profession are directing everything in favor of the white? The other reason their low representation of the minority is because there is growth in the pharmaceutical business? That's not wanted to happen to the black Canadian, keeping them at the lower levels of the economy (Hardeman, R. R., Medina, E. M., & Kozhimannil, K. B. 2016, pg. 150-177).

Communication breakdown.

There is a breakdown in communication as it is the center of discussion to health care. The non-white community has inadequate facilities for schooling (Ansell, D. A. & McDonald, E. K, 2015, pg. 76-82). Will take an example of Aboriginal children that matched demanding better schooling facilities from the government. It is the right of every child to have access to education, but many children end up dropping from school and get jobs to help their parents with the house expenses. Later in the future theses children cannot be able to have fluent and clear communication with the professionals.

Importance.

Different ideas can help to dismantle this type of treatment in our health care system. First, there should be bold leadership from the government sector (Hardeman, R. R., Medina, E. M., & Kozhimannil, K. B. 2016, pg. 150-177). It will help bridge the gaps and break down the barriers affecting the service provided to black and indigenous communities. Blacks and indigenous people are entitled to quality health services just like any other citizen, and the service should be adequately offered (Ansell, D. A., & McDonald, E. K. 2015, pg. 76-82).

Equal opportunities should be given to these groups as there has been less incorporation of the blacks. Only the merit should be considered but not someone's color. More research should be conducted on how Racism has affected the black community and how to handle the effects of Racism. It is because less has been done on the black community regarding the impact of Racism (Ansell, D. A., & McDonald, E. K. 2015, pg. 76-82).

The government should be able to provide equal education opportunities to all its citizens. With equal education opportunities, there will be more black people to help with the health care sector, not only in offering services but also in researching the health complications facing our black community. Apart from equal education opportunities, people of color need to be economically stable. This is by the provision of equal employment opportunities regardless of the color. It will help to improve their living standard as much black community lives in specific sections that are known because they are environmentally unsatisfactory. There are no hardworking people who live every day trying to prove themselves to the world (Hardeman, R. R., Medina, E. M., & Kozhimannil, K. B. 2016, pg. 150-177).

There should be accountability; it's due to a lack of responsibility from the government to the institutions. For instance, the case of the children aid system that put a child refugee from Somalia into foster care for years and never applied for Canadian citizenship made me mad. It's the responsibility of the Children's aid to make sure that these refugee children are well taken care of, and their future is better.

Conclusion.

While the race is often referred to as a social construct with no real material base, racist assumptions continue to shape institutions and social interactions. Epidemiologist Nancy Krieger has suggested that there are six pathways through which Racism, economic and social deprivation, toxic substances and hazardous conditions, socially inflicted trauma (mental physical, and sexual, directly experienced or witnessed, from verbal threats to violent acts. The government should show by example to its citizens by providing equal opportunities and also hold people responsible, whether black or white, as it is clear that health discrimination based on race still exists. Money can, indeed, buy better health.

It is about time we accept all the types of people. Racism in the gay community should be ended. The gay community faces a lot of challenges, but being a black gay is not easy. Accepting children and youth workers would help them in a great way. We will be able to build their confidence, and we will experience fewer cases of suicide as many children and youth of color are afraid of what awaits them in the society. Teenagers and children thrive in affirmation and acceptance, not only from the people around them but also from the whole community. Canada is considered to be the state of freedom and liberation. It is about time we practice this and allow Canadian black gay youths to exercise their right to love. These youths and children have so much to offer the state, and the society should top limiting them based on their sexuality.

Reference

Ansell, D. A., & McDonald, E. K. (2015). Bias, black lives, and academic medicine. N Engl J Med, 372(12), 1087-1089.

Brunner, B. (2007). The Tuskegee syphilis experiment. Retrieved from http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmtuskegee1.html

Dealing with Racism in gay online dating. Retrieved From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ZEQ2kPNFI

Hardeman, R. R., Medina, E. M., & Kozhimannil, K. B. (2016). Structural Racism and Supporting Black Lives-The Role of Health Professionals. The New England Journal of Medicine, 375(22), 2113-2115.