Fitting In
Brian Sankarsingh continues the discussion on the rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in Canada
In an article titled Unwelcome & Unwanted: The South Asian Struggle in Contemporary Canada my writing partner
wrote about the significant increase in hate crimes and slurs against South Asians in Canada. He reflected on his experiences in the 90s with racial hate against South Asians. As I read his article not only was I in the middle of writing this article, but I was also thinking about my experiences with skinheads in the 80s. During those years, even though my brown skin painted me as “Paki” in their eyes, I did everything that I could in how I spoke and behaved to let people know that I was Caribbean, not South Asian.In recent years, in an almost cyclical dependability, there has been a concerning rise in xenophobic sentiment against immigrant communities in Canada and specifically the South Asian community. The people espousing this hate do not want to hear that immigrants contribute significantly to the Canada’s cultural diversity. They refuse to acknowledge that immigrants contribute to the economic strength and stability in Canada. They simple associate all that is wrong with their world to “those damn immigrants!” I have heard this story before in the 80s when I first arrived in Canada. Neil heard it when he came here in the 90s and we are hearing it again in 2024. This is a troubling trend that undermines the values of inclusivity and tolerance that Canada prides itself on.
Hate against immigrants often stems from fear and misinformation. Economic anxieties, cultural differences, and political rhetoric can all contribute to a sense of "otherness" that fuels prejudice. In times of uncertainty, some individuals may scapegoat immigrants, believing that they are taking jobs or changing the social fabric of the nation. This mindset is not only harmful but also unfounded, as numerous studies have shown that immigrants are essential to Canada's economic growth, innovation, and cultural enrichment.
We are generally told that one of the most effective ways to address hate is through education – but this is not always the case. Although we have seen Canadian schools, workplaces, and community organizations promoting efforts to understand and be aware of immigrant contributions, racial bias can often exist within those efforts. We can only be left to conclude that this type of extremist behaviour is either fostered, fed, and grown in the home, among peers, fuelled by social media and encouraged by political demagogues. The only new element added to this mix over the years is the influence of social media.
As a person of colour who immigrated to Canada in the 80s I realized very quickly that to survive I had one of two choices. Primarily I had to become so innocuous that I “fit in.” This meant mimicking my White peers in speech and behaviour. The stereotype of East Indians – and indeed many immigrants - in the 80s was that they were rude, not very communicative, smelly, and disinterested in integrating into Canadian society. Sound familiar? Nevertheless, to fit in, I made every effort to be none of those things with great passion. For example, I was already a very courteous person – my mother made sure of that – but I went out of my way to be courteous and helpful to a fault. I was determined to be as “Canadian” as I could be although at times, I would not even understand what that meant.
It was only after decades of being this other person that I realized I also had something I could contribute to Canada. This realization came when I was approaching my fiftieth birthday and that was then I published my first book appropriately titled A Sliver of a Chance, Insights and Observations of a Canadian Immigrant. Those formative years and that change in thinking taught me several lessons of which I will highlight only two:
Canada’s hidden strength and its ability to grow, adapt and succeed in the world depends on immigrants as much as it does on the “Canadian” who was born and lives here. Their shared belief that Canada is a place where people are accepted for who they are, what they can do and how they can contribute to Canada is the common denominator that makes them all uniquely Canadian.
Canada culture is strongest when it can take the best of all other cultures and incorporate it into its own – that is yet another thing that strengthens the fabric of Canadian society. This is a lesson many immigrants need to learn as well. Like me some hide or repress that culture to fit in whilst others settle into little isolated cultural pockets. There, they do all that they can to avoid being a part of, or contributing to, Canadian society.
Fitting In
There is a part of me within
That hates the colour of my skin
Trying often to evade the rush
Of being painted with the same brush
I hate myself for this approach
Languishing in distasteful self-reproach
Hating myself for these thoughts
Fearing that I might be caught
Trying to subtly differentiate
To separate and disassociate
“I may be brown, but we’re not the same”
In words and actions, I proclaim
This destroys my personality
My internal split identity
While unashamed to represent my race
I wish it did not show in my face
Obsessed to not be stereotypical
This may sound hypocritical
Overcome with guilt and shame
They’re not my rules, I just play the game Bio: BRIAN SANKARSINGH is a Trinidadian-born Canadian immigrant who has published several books of poetry on a wide range of social and historical themes including racism, colonialism, and enslavement. Sankarsingh artfully blends prose and poetry into his storytelling creating an eclectic mix with both genres. This unique approach is sure to provide something for everyone.
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Racism/ethnoracial discrimination are the first half of a binary weapon system; the second half is what transpires within someone, which can potentially be far more damaging than the external acts that occur. I appreciate how this article and poem looked at the second half of the equation.
Reflecting on where that internal process can go if left unchecked brings to mind this from the book The Miseducation of the Negro: "When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary."
As a child I was fortunate enough to go to school with many other nationalities. I was taught at home to be respectful of ALL people regardless of the colour of their skin. If you will pardon me a slice or personal memory, my mother used to say it doesn't matter what colour the rice is, it's still rice. Of course she was not talking about nutritional value but rather the commonality that we are ALL human.
Hate is taught. plain and simple, and it usually starts at home.
Loved the poem. Keep it up.