'Should you speak up or should you stay silent?': The impact of everyday racism - Action News
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British Columbia

'Should you speak up or should you stay silent?': The impact of everyday racism

In light of photos of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dressed in brownface and blackface, CBC News spoke to people of colour about their experiences of everyday racism in Metro Vancouver.

CBC News asked people in Metro Vancouver to share their experiences

CBC News went out to talk to people in Metro Vancouver about everyday experiences of racism. (CBC News)

Photos of Justin Trudeau dressed in brownface and blackface makeup which surfaced this week reignited conversations about racism in Canada and the people who experience it.

Trudeau apologized for his behaviour Wednesday evening after Time Magazinereported that the LIberal leaderhad darkened his skin with makeupin 2001 at a private school in Vancouver, B.C., where he used to work.

Since then, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who has spoken out about his own experiences of racism,has agreed to talk with Trudeau. Singh says conversationsneed to focus on the people most impacted by Trudeau's blackface/brownface scandal Canadians who have experienced the trauma of racism.

CBC News went out to talk to peoplein Metro Vancouver to ask abouteveryday experiences of racism.

Javeed Kassam, Vancouver

Javeed Kassam says it's difficult to choose when to stand up in the face of everyday racism and when to let it go.

Javdeep Kassam is pictured in Vancouver, British Columbia on Friday September 20, 2019. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

"I train at a tennis club in North Vancouver and this man told me to go fetch a tennis ball," said Kassam. "I'm 25 years old and I'm not a dog but I just kind of took it. Should you speak up or should you stay silent? It's always sort of a battle internally that you have."

NeedeevnUppadoo, Surrey

'The terrorist thing'

5 years ago
Duration 0:21
Needeevn Uppadoo describes how friends have joked about him being a terrorist.

Shawn Wilson

Shawn Wilson is a Metis man living and working in Vancouver.

Shawn Wilson is pictured in Vancouver, British Columbia on Friday September 20, 2019. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

"People see me as white and not First Nations so I hear a lot of racism and racist jokes at work," said Wilson.

"Sometimes I have to bite my tongue because I'm outnumbered as a minority."

RahatRao, Surrey

'No space in Canada for discrimination'

5 years ago
Duration 0:35
Rahat Rao knows racism exists in this country, but believes Canada is a leader in human rights.

Victoria De Anda

Latina Victoria De Anda says her race has come up when seeking medical care.

Victoria De Anda is pictured in Vancouver, British Columbia on Friday September 20, 2019. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

"I visited the doctor because I recently discovered I am pregnant, but the doctor didn't ask me anything about my pregnancy," said De Anda."The first sentence that he said was, 'In your country do you get ultrasounds this early' even though I am from Canada."

NavMahairhu, Surrey

'Racist in teensy, tiny ways'

5 years ago
Duration 0:29
Nav Mahairhu explains that racism and sexism can exist within families and social circles.

Adriana Morales, Surrey

'If you believe in yourself, that's all that counts'

5 years ago
Duration 0:50
Adriana Morales encourages those who experience racism to stay positive.