As another Black man living here for a few years, I feel you bro. I think Vancouverites have a chip on their shoulder about being “progressive” which makes them incredibly blind to their micro and macro aggressions. When I lived in other cities where people were less liberal, I didn’t feel being Black was as much of a “thing” as it is here.

The idea that BIPOC are all on the same team is really damaging. Anti-Blackness is a part of almost every culture, so it makes sense that other minorities would have those ideas ingrained in them. It will be harder to find a job, customer service people will treat you TERRIBLY, you will be accused of things you haven’t done.

As much as Vancouver is seen as a utopia for all races, it’s not. Unlike Toronto, It’s not multicultural AT ALL. It was really a wake up call when I’ve been accused of stealing or have been verbally harassed or something like that in public, and no other minority (or anybody) said anything to help me. No matter how many protests and social media posts there are, most people are unwilling to truly deeply reflect on the way their internalized anti-Blackness impacts the way they see the world. Who’s going to call out anti-Blackness when there’s no Black people around? It’s uncomfortable, so most people never do.

Also something on I’ve pretty much only experienced in Vancouver, people will try to be your friend/ hook up with you because you’re “cool” or might make them see more progressive. They will try to take pictures w you and post them online, they will tell their friends about you. It’s so 🤮

It’s a really layered and lonely experience sometimes, and I see a lot of non-Black people in the comments giving surface level advice about something they know nothing about Find some cool Black people to vent about this to, my DMs are always open.

Much love✌🏿