Tricia Hylton

It's official: Blacks are three times more likely to be stopped by Toronto police

Cathryn Atkinson — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:56:44 +0000

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The Toronto Star's 2010 investigative report series on racial profiling proved the black community's fears. Time for an apology, right officer?

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.

It's official: Blacks are three times more likely to be stopped by Toronto police

alex — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:27:03 +0000

Thursday, March 11, 2010

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.

The Toronto Star's 2010 investigative report series on racial profiling proved the black community's fears. Time for an apology, right officer?

Hollywood's banner year for black stereotypes

alex — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:22:31 +0000

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

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.

District 9, The Hangover, Precious and The Princess and the Frog in one year perpetuated just about every negative stereotype that has existed about blacks since slavery.

The fears of one paranoid black mother

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Friday, June 1, 2007

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 wa

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.

A practical solution to gun violence

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

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 stif

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.

Obesity rates poised to rise among Black Canadians

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Friday, June 30, 2006

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.

Canada is facing an obesity epidemic. Recently, however, experts are beginning to explore the not-so-simple or straightforward connection between income level, neighbourhood location and weight. Thes

A column, a math question and Black History Month

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

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 artic

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.

Minority officers and community policing

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Monday, May 1, 2006

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.

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 'Hustle and Flow' of Black male stereotypes

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Thursday, March 30, 2006

The film <i>Hustle and Flow</i> garnered international acclaim in 2005. This is unfortunate. What millions saw and millions more will see are stereotypical images of the aggressive, uneducated, sex

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.

In search of a unified Black culture

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Thursday, February 23, 2006

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.

Why has the celebration of Black History Month become such a debate? For me, Black History Month is about celebrating the noteworthy accomplishments of Black Canadians in order to provide our childr

What have the Liberals done for you lately?

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Monday, January 9, 2006

It's no secret: Black Canadians vote primarily Liberal in federal elections.

On January 23, before we instinctively mark an “x” beside the Liberal candidate, let's look at the effects of some Liberal policies on Black Canadians over the last 12 years.

It's no secret: Black Canadians vote primarily Liberal in federal elections. On January 23, before we instinctively mark an x beside the Liberal candidate, let's look at the effects of so

The case for Black marriage

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

We just don't marry. Out of every ethnic group in Canada, Black Canadians marry the least. If marriage remains the foundation of a strong and stable family and community then clearly, this foundation is missing from our culture.

Now you may think the resistance of Blacks — primarily Black men — to marry is just part of a 21st century social condition, and yes, that is partially true. But, it may surprise you to learn our resistance to marriage also has roots in slavery.

Before we look at the reasons why we do not marry, let's first look at the overall situation.

We just don't marry. Out of every ethnic group in Canada, Black Canadians marry the least. If marriage remains the foundation of a strong and stable family and community then clearly, this foundati

Breaking the chains of stereotypes

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Monday, November 28, 2005

You're free to be who you want to be, unless you are a black woman.

Then you are defined by a number of stereotypes that tell you who you are.

Some of these stereotypes have been around since slavery; others are a recent construct of modern-day culture.

You're free to be who you want to be, unless you are a black woman. Then you are defined by a number of stereotypes that tell you who you are. Some of these stereotypes have been around since slavery

Appeal to their minds, not their behinds

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

“You're stupid.”

“No, you're stupid.”

“No, I'm not stupid, you're stupid.”

This is a typical exchange on the popular kids' program SpongeBob SquarePants between SpongeBob and his best friend, Patrick. There is not one place I know, where this dialogue would be acceptable between children.

Yet such language is typical in television programs targeted at children over five.

In past generations, teaching values and virtues to children only required parents to set a good example. This is not the case today.

You're stupid. No, you're stupid. No, I'm not stupid, you're stupid. This is a typical exchange on the popular kids' program <i>SpongeBob SquarePants</i> between

The search for Black collective consciousness

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Friday, October 14, 2005

For a people under the oppression of slavery for more than 400 years, we have made great strides in a short period of time. But tell me, when you look at the state of Black Canada, or for that matte

Kenyan biologist Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Prize for Peace in November 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development,democracy and peace. Oprah Winfrey, arguably the most famous andloved black woman in the world, presented her with the Prize.

Wangari and Oprah are but two notable people of African descentamong millions. I could easily fill this page and numerous others withnames of accomplished, respected, brilliant, rich, famous BlackCanadians, Black Americans, Caribbean and Africans.