Dionne brand racism

1. Racism
• “Racism is a stronger form of stereotyping where the ideas that one
holds about others makes a person dislike or hate members of that
particular group.”
• “Racism in Canada today tends to be more clandestine. Canada has
federal and provincial legislation to protect individuals, groups, and
cultural expressions, however forms of racism and discrimination
persists. The Canadian HUMAN RIGHTS Act makes it is a
discriminatory practice to communicate hatred. The Act protects
Canadians from public statements that promote hatred, or incite
hate against an identifiable group based on their ethnicity and/or
skin colour. Media and cultural productions are slow to represent
racial minorities and some marginalized groups are stereotyped
and misrepresented, perpetuating some of the subtler racist beliefs
and attitudes.”

2. • Dionne Brand believes that "by addressing
real power can we begin to deal with racism",
that is, engaging in both economic and
political power.

3. • Fore Day Morning (1978) deals with memories
from Brand’s childhood in Trinidad and her
painful separation from her beloved
grandmother while recalling the blatant
racism and cultural imperialism that prompted
her emigration to Canada.
• No Language Is Neutral (1990) demonstrates
how racism, classism, and heterosexism affect
speakers' attitudes toward the English
language.

4. • In Rivers Have Sources, Trees Have Roots
(1986) Brand and co-author Krisantha Sri
Bhaggiyadatta interviewed a hundred people
from the Canadian Native, Black, Chinese, and
South Asian communities about their
perspectives of racism and how it has
impacted their lives.
• “Canto VI”, Primitive Offensive (1982)

5. you, in the square,
you in the square of Koln
in the square before that huge destructive
Cathedral. [. . .]
From “Canto IV”, Primitive Offensive (1982).

6. you, in the square,
you in the square of Koln
in the square before that huge destructive
Cathedral. [. . .]
From “Canto IV”, Primitive Offensive (1982).