Ask Me Help Desk - Reverse Racism

Reverse Racism

Why is there no such thing as reverse racism? Why can a minority company advertise something like this :
“hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. We encourage all qualified persons to apply; however, qualified Aboriginal applicants will be given priority in accordance with the Aboriginal Employment Preference policy of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.” If an all-white organization advertised only Caucasians, or preference to Caucasians is given we’d be tarred and lynched. I thought we were trying to abolish racism, isn’t this only promoting it? Why are these companies judging people on the colour of their skin opposed to what they are capable of doing? I don’t see this as equal or fair judgment. To be given a job solely on skin colour seems as demeaning as getting a job because you’re a woman and they need to fill the gender gap. I want to be hired because I am going to be an asset to the company, not because of my heritage. My heritage and skin colour is only a part of what I am, it does not define WHO I am. If aboriginals want to be treated as equals, shouldn’t they be treating us the same?

And I know I have a thread like this already, but this is the second job that I potentially might lose because of skin colour :(

Im not sure if the translation is the same between our countries. But to me I would think this has to do with a certain type of person. Not just a black person. Is there a difference or is that the term used in Canada for a black person?

In the U.S. we have what is called affirmitive action and many have been through what your talking about as well as at the college education levels. Your right we should be past all of this. But as with most laws so long as they can still control us in some way then they tend to stay on the books.

Dad, aboriginies in Canada are what we refer to natives. Or Indians.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

Dad, aboriginies in Canada are what we refer to natives. Or Indians.

Ah OK, And I thought it was the peoples that originally occupied Australia. My bad.

Yes "Indians". Annoying as heck.

Terms have changed so many times, it's hard to keep track, when I was a kid it was Indians, then Natives, Aboriginal and now First Nations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdad

Ah ok, And I thought it was the peoples that originally occupied Austrailia. My bad.

We have the same policies in aboriginal run organisations here, its OK though because you have to be part of the scene to understand the mindset and it provides employment opportunities they might not otherwise get, but if an organisation is upfront then what is the problem better than wasting your time and theirs

This is the Catch 22 of Opportunity.
The reasoning for giving preferential treatment is because equality doesn't quite exist yet, not in numbers and not in hiring, or selling, or renting, or allowing in to private organizations, clubs, and schools. In your, my, and many parts of the world, 'whites' make the laws, do the hiring and so on. Poor Caucasians know what the struggle is like but poor people of color have it many times harder - color, speech, education, even a many generations old trait to not look an employer in the eye, because 100 years ago, that could get your thrown in jail or worse.

In theory there will be a wonderful day when color and background really won't matter... which is what we all say, yet it's lip service in the marketplace.

It's just so stressful. I am trying not to hold resentment, but like they get free houses, they don't pay taxes, they don't have to pay for electricity or schooling, they money monthly just for being aboriginal, and I am a struggling single mother who has put her self through school with NO help from ANYone else, yet I am the one out pounding the pavement, begging for a job.

I don't know what the government give-aways are in Canada. In the US, native Americans/aboriginals vary considerably in wealth. The ones who own casinos are rich; the ones in the Southwest are often still very poor (Las Vegas and Reno are owned mostly by mobs). Equal Opportunity Law here applies to any minority, and women to some extent. Private institutions such as colleges practice it too, and some people do call it reverse racism, because it's preferential. Credit is given for not being part of the ruling class.
When I worked for the Post Office in the 60s, preference was given to Vietnam Vets. Was that bad? I don't think so. Was it a different case? Not really. They served, were injured, were traumatized. The people who were in Canada and the US first had everything taken away from them, stolen. We are paying for the sins of our fathers. For how long? As long as it takes to get rid of the inequalities.
Yes, it's too bad it has spilled over into a free lunch, dinner, and house. But a lot of the resentment was there before the preferential treatment; they couldn't get jobs or apartments or even buy houses then, and still can't very easily. The resentment is perpetuated now by the hand-outs. The cycle continues. I don't have the solution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joypulv

I don't know what the government give-aways are in Canada. In the US, native Americans/aboriginals vary considerably in wealth. The ones who own casinos are rich; the ones in the Southwest are often still very poor (Las Vegas and Reno are owned mostly by mobs). (........And much more in the original .....) The cycle continues. I don't have the solution.

I don't have the solution either, but you have brought some clarity to a difficult situation.