The Toronto Star's 2010 investigative series on racial profiling proved the black community right. It is not often that disputes about perspective are conclusively settled with one side clearly right. However, the difference of opinion between the black community and the police force over whether the Toronto police engage in the practice of racial profiling may finally be settled.
Tricia Hylton
Tricia Hylton is a freelance writer living in Toronto, Ontario. Through her writing, Tricia hopes to provide insights to create conversation and understanding on the impact of Canada’s social, economic and political policies and cultural norms on the many multi-ethnic communities in Canada. Tricia is the recipient of the 2006 Ethnic Media of Canada Award. To send you comments to Tricia, contact her @ palpitations@rogers.com.It's official: Blacks are three times more likely to be stopped by Toronto police
The Toronto Star's 2010 investigative series on racial profiling proved the black community right. It is not often that disputes about perspective are conclusively settled with one side clearly right. However, the difference of opinion between the black community and the police force over whether the police engage in the practice of racial profiling may finally be settled.
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Hollywood's banner year for black stereotypes
You would think that the election of a black president would have put a dent in one or two of the more negative black stereotypes, but the more things change, the more they stay the same. In 2009, Hollywood movies portrayed blacks as violent criminals; sexually depraved and promiscuous females; dimwitted drug dealers; fat, illiterate young people; uncaring, insensitive mothers; and observers of voodoo and black magic. Indeed, 2009 was a banner year for negative black stereotypes.
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The fears of one paranoid black mother
The shooting death of 14-year-old C.W. Jefferys student Jordan Manners has caused many of my carefully hidden fears to surface. Precious cargo, I call them, so precious that we must go out of our way to protect them, shield them, save them. As the mother of a young black male, I believe there is no other sex and race of person that is more endangered in the western world.
My son is not safe. And I do not mean he is not safe in the way we are all not safe; he is not safe in some very specific ways.
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A practical solution to gun violence
It's generally accepted that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a pretty smart guy. So why is his government's plan to reduce gun crimes so misguided?
All the experts say the legislation to impose stiffer sentences for gun crimes will not have the desired effect of reducing crime and removing criminals from our midst.
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Obesity rates poised to rise among Black Canadians
Canada is facing an obesity epidemic. According to the 2005 Community Health Survey, Canadian children, youth and adults are heavier now than at any other time in our history. An estimated 26 per cent of Canadian children and adolescents aged two to 17 are overweight, eight per cent of whom are considered obese: body weight is composed of more than 25 per cent fat in males and more than 32 per cent fat in females.
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A column, a math question and Black History Month
If a national columnist had written his wholly misinformed article, or a math question about Condoleezza Rice and a watermelon had been made public in February, then this would be a very timely article. Unfortunately — or perhaps fortunately — that was not the case.
Now, in May 2006, I will defend the existence and purpose of Black History Month.
Let's begin with the wholly misinformed columnist.
A recent article in the National Post responded to a Toronto Star feature on ghetto crime.
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Minority officers and community policing
With Stephen Harper's commitment to get tough on crime, and police forces across Canada demanding new officers, the time has never been better to hire more minority officers.
The 2002 report, Strategic Human Resources Analysis of Public Policing in Canada notes, the police force is one of Canada's least diverse workforces, both at the rank and file level and at the executive level.
This is problematic on many levels, but particularly to the implementation of one strategy proven to crack down on crime: community policing.
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The 'Hustle and Flow' of Black male stereotypes
The film Hustle and Flow garnered international acclaim in 2005. This is unfortunate. What millions saw and millions more will see are stereotypical images of the aggressive, uneducated, sexually immoral Black male in the character played by Terrence Howard. Despite its acclaim, Hustle and Flow is a microcosm of numerous negative stereotypes.
Terrence Howard, was nominated for an Oscar for his role as a violent and aggressive pimp.
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In search of a unified Black culture
Why has the celebration of Black History Month become such a debate? At last check, Canada also has a month to celebrate Asian Heritage (May) and Hispanic Heritage (September/October). If there is a ruckus about celebrating those months, I haven't heard it. Why all the fuss?
For me, Black History Month is about celebrating the noteworthy accomplishments of Black Canadians in order to provide our children and youth with a sense of belonging in the wider Canadian context.
On a day-to-day basis, this sense of belonging is lacking in our community.
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