Opinion
Canada must formally apologize for its historic role in the enslavement of Africans in this country and acknowledge the contributions of Black Canadians
By Huda Mukbil April 5, 2021
The government’s lack of measurable progress on anti-Black racism results from fighting inequality symptoms rather than the disease—a comprehensive apology for years of pain and suffering through enslavement, marginalization and Black exclusion.
An anti-Black racism protester, pictured June 5, 2020, on the Hill. As of March 2021, more than 600 former and current Black public service employees are suing the federal government over the unjust practice of Black employee exclusion due to systemic discrimination dating back from the 1970s and over 12,000 Canadians have signed a petition calling on Justin Trudeau and the Government of Canada to end systemic discrimination and Black employee exclusion within the federal public service. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
American civil rights activist James Baldwin once asked, “how much time do you want for your ‘progress.’ ” Canadian Black politicians, leaders, professors, civil rights activists, and associations have for years called upon Canada to formally apologize for its role in the enslavement of Africans in this country. This long-awaited apology would bring about acknowledgment, recognition, and much-needed healing of the effects of slavery still reflected in the treatment and the experiences of Black Canadians. Canada’s long overdue apology for the treatment of the No. 2 Construction Battalion and recognition of Emancipation Day are not enough.
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