Working Through Racism

From: John Ames Birch Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2021 8:15:25 PM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; antonio.ferrari@un.org <antonio.ferrari@un.org>; Rota, Anthony - Riding 1 <Anthony.Rota.C1@parl.gc.ca>; ANKRA-Consular@international.gc.ca <ANKRA-Consular@international.gc.ca>; accredit@gov.ru <accredit@gov.ru>; actso@naacpnet.org <actso@naacpnet.org>; Blanchet, Yves-François - Député <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>; beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr <beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr>; Kate Brown For Oregon Information <info@katebrownfororegon.com>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; ctvottawa@ctv.ca <ctvottawa@ctv.ca>; correspondence@council.nyc.gov <correspondence@council.nyc.gov>; contactus@newfoundlandlabrador.com <contactus@newfoundlandlabrador.com>; dir_enq@cso.gov.hk <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>; doug.fordco@pc.ola.org <doug.fordco@pc.ola.org>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; dan@jpost.com <dan@jpost.com>; English@mail.gov.cn <English@mail.gov.cn>; education@nasa.gov <education@nasa.gov>; edpubs@edpubs.ed.gov <edpubs@edpubs.ed.gov>; edumitru@amnesty.ca <edumitru@amnesty.ca>; eurohealthycities@who.int <eurohealthycities@who.int>; Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca <Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca>; Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca <Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca>; fkalmbach@theadvocate.com <fkalmbach@theadvocate.com>; FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov <FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; govsec@nanoq.gl <govsec@nanoq.gl>; govpress@la.gov <govpress@la.gov>; HaveYourSay <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>; harjit.sajjan@parl.gc.ca <harjit.sajjan@parl.gc.ca>; info@bnn.ca <info@bnn.ca>; Info@hc-sc.gc.ca <Info@hc-sc.gc.ca>; Info@PMOindia.gov.in <Info@PMOindia.gov.in>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca <Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca>; jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca <jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca>; jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>; kdundar@hdn.com.tr <kdundar@hdn.com.tr>; KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov <KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov>; letters@jpost.com <letters@jpost.com>; letters@theaustralian.com.au <letters@theaustralian.com.au>; letters@lasvegassun.com <letters@lasvegassun.com>; lansing@mlive.com <lansing@mlive.com>; media@sputniknews.com <media@sputniknews.com>; media@gatesfoundation.org <media@gatesfoundation.org>; minister.edu@ontario.ca <minister.edu@ontario.ca>; matt.eldredge@kolotv.com <matt.eldredge@kolotv.com>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; newsonline@ctv.ca <newsonline@ctv.ca>; news@thelocal.se <news@thelocal.se>; News@KelownaNow.com <News@KelownaNow.com>; Oprah@oprah.com <Oprah@oprah.com>; osd.pentagonpressbadges@mail.mil <osd.pentagonpressbadges@mail.mil>; online@theaustralian.com.au <online@theaustralian.com.au>; premier@gov.pe.ca <premier@gov.pe.ca>; pm_eng@pmo.gov.il <pm_eng@pmo.gov.il>; PARIS-MEDIA@international.gc.ca <PARIS-MEDIA@international.gc.ca>; Robert.g.daniels@cbp.dhs.gov <Robert.g.daniels@cbp.dhs.gov>; ryan.schleeter@greenpeace.org <ryan.schleeter@greenpeace.org>; Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>; Secretary@HHS.gov <Secretary@HHS.gov>; submit@calgaryherald.com <submit@calgaryherald.com>; tips@GlobalTVBC.com <tips@GlobalTVBC.com>; tracy.mcphee@gov.yk.ca <tracy.mcphee@gov.yk.ca>; Naacp <washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org> Subject: Working Through Racism (Opinion)

Hey everyone, I was reading a story about a man who experienced racism in the workplace. It talked about how racist words were written in the elevator and racist images left in a stockroom. It also talked about racist words being used by the staff and that this case will be brought before the Supreme court. The case at hand is whether or not this created a hostile work environment for him and others. In my opinion this is clear evidence of hostile working conditions and a culture of oppression. Firstly, the hospital should have immediately removed the racist words and images and their failure to do so created a hostile work environment for every person of color. Everyday they had to ride the elevator with racist words to start their day of work. This would effect them even on a subconscious level and would not only affect their job performance but affect them personally. The hospital should have immediately cleaned the graffiti and launched an internal investigation to prevent such distasteful acts moving forward. However the hospital failed to do this and left the graffiti which means they were either complicit in racism or accepting of it. Furthermore the use of "boy" when referring to African American's harkens back to a time of slavery. This proves a racist, prejudicial and oppressive culture for people of color. If his supervisors or managers fostered this hostile work environment based on racism then his job opportunities would have also been limited by this culture. Use of the N word or other racist words, not only creates a hostile work environment it also creates a hostile society. These words of hate propagate hate and inequality and should never be uttered especially in a workplace. Any organization or business that allows it or turns a blind eye when racism happens are promoting a culture of bias. We must do better. I call for an immediate review of this case and the hospital itself to ensure that employees of color are given the equality of opportunity that each of us deserves. Stay safe, stay sanitized and stay supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2