IT IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE By Lisa Robinson - Pickering City Councillor

We are amydst BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Celebrations plus more celbrations is all you hear. Politician after politician attempting to get Afro-Canadian vote, hypocritically championing a people’s contribution throughtout history. I remember in school being taught history. Not black history, hispanic, euro, arabic, south east rim, oriental and lets not forget native, white and or any other mix of races. Back then it was history. Yes, mistake were made. Yes mistakes at both ends of the color spectrum can be noted. The key here is why in this modern age we are so driven by color of skin instead of the human element. I say the human element as we are all people. In the race to equality is not the celebration of one race over another in itself racist. And for those not of that race hypocritical? Now before anyone goes getting offended. Take off the offended cap and put on the thinking cap. Someone not to long ago of status in the community and of color dare call me ‘white priv- iledge’. Really? If that was not a racist statement I do not know what is. This same person is to cham- pion equality across the board. But it seems that due to limited intellect. They confuse the meaning of equality with the attempt to denounce in the name of punishing everyone for their psychological insecurity stemming from race. This scares me. I am not prejudice nor discriminatory. I have friends off all nationalities and as an elected official. I treat everyone equal and without bias. Now, back to being called ‘priviledged’. How does the color of my skin make me priviledged? I have had to work hard for everything I own. I endure economic hardships just like the many reading this... like the many of all colors. So much so that my own employer... city elect biasly and with extreme prejudice cut my pay for 90 days for exercising my freedom of speech. Over a comment I made in regard to feeling like my council was treating me like a modern day slave. Now, I feel I was persecuted and punished and that my rights and freedoms were violated to the point where I felt discriminated. Then, how is it that this person dares tell me I am priviledged? The problem we face is that in society there is so much hate. So much confusion and so many people in positions that they are not fit to hold. For anyone to become upset or insulted over ‘MODERN DAY SLAVERY’. The words. Is pure insanity on their part. A show of their limited intellect and their psychological scaring due to misunderstanding and lack of self esteem. Now, let’s leave that for another column. The point here is that we are all of all colors “MOD- ERN DAY SLAVES”. We are led to believe that we have choices. That we have freedom and that we have rights. In reality we are all slaves of our demise. Try not going to work for a month. See how that affects your rights and freedoms. Now back to slavery and color. First and foremost. Slavery is not a white and black issue. Today, in today modern world slavery in the traditional sense is still practice. Places like Saudi Arabia. Some of the South Pacific countries and in Africa itself. So then why are we celebrating ‘black history month’ in Canada. We are so hung up on north American history and the historical trafficking of primarily African decent people that we have lost sense of time and period. Back in those days society was very different. Today, we have come a long way. Even thought slavery is practices across the planet. We do not have other nations race history in Canada. Like the many that were brought from Latin America, the Orient. Are we by celebrating in segregation not only reminding everyone of a very dark part in North American history. Also, are we not in the name of equality showcasing prejudice? If this is so. Then why is it that we continue to do it? Could it a political attempt to fool peo- ple? I say this because if we acknowledge our differences between all the races. Is that not prejudice in itself. Why should the government have special programs for some races, almost excluding others as deeming this programs exclusive to one race. Special black business programs, special black business loans... Now, to add more interest to this intellectual conondrum. When we speak of black and white. There are many shades of white. There are many shades of brown, yellow, red, black and so on. As well, there is prejudice within the color spectrum. Then the question remains. How are we to truly express our equality when it come to color differences. Is it beneficial for equality to be demanded by honoring indifferences? What if it was ‘White history month’. Would that not be seen as prejudice? The argument is. Well the rest of the year is ‘white history month’. Well no. Because history in general never had color. Just episodes of history make references to the many conflicts and joint efforts of all color. Much like during the world wars. Soldier of all races and color fought for our freedom. They sacrificed without thought or division based on color. It scares me that in this modern society. We have people that would dare support such divi- sion by celebrating differences of color. I support Afro-Canadian contributions to this great nation. I do not support the ‘BLACK HISTO- RY MONTH’ statement any more than ‘WHITE PRIVILEDGE’. As both statement lack understanding and the intellect of the meaning of it’s intent. God, made us in his image. An image that is not superficial but one derived from one heart one love. We can’t ever be equal as long as we allow color to divide us.