Race Discrimination
Race discrimination is any form of unjustified adverse differential treatment towards a person or group of people based on characteristics related to race, colour, ancestry, or place of origin. Each of these grounds has separate and unique meanings and can be referred to either alone or in conjunction with one another to reflect a given situation. Either way, these grounds provide protections that attempt to get to the root of discrimination that often occurs when actions and comments are based in ethnic bias, stereotypes and assumptions as opposed to objective assessments based on individual merit and capabilities.
Discrimination and harassment on the above grounds is often talked about in the broader context of racism. It is can also be talked about in the context of ethnocentrism, islamphobia, xenophobia, colourism, etc. Our comments here are restricted to racism.
Racism is based on societal values and personal belief systems which dictate that one group or race is inherently superior to another. Racism appears in social structures and practices that limit, exclude, oppress and discriminate against target individuals and groups because of their race, colour, ancestry, or place of origin.
Racism may be found in the attitudes and behaviours of individuals and groups as well as in organizational and institutional structures that privilege or provide opportunities and special rights to the dominant group and disadvantage or exclude target individuals and groups. Racism can be overt or covert, intentional or unintentional.
Racial discrimination is an expression of racism. It is any action based on race that imposes burdens or limits opportunities.
Racial Harassment
Racial harassment involves unwanted or unwelcome comments, conduct or behaviour that humiliates, intimidates, excludes and isolates an individual or group by focusing on their race, ethnicity, place of origin, or religion. Overall, racial harassment undermines self-esteem and is a violation of the dignity and security of the individual or group(s) that it targets.
Racial harassment can involve the abuse of a position of authority; it can also occur between people of equal status. Racial harassment can happen to anyone, female or male. Students, staff and faculty can be either the victims or the harassers.
Racial harassment can include:
Physical
- Intimidating or derogatory gestures
- Physical violence or assault or threats of violence
Verbal
- Negative or derogatory comments about a racial or ethnic group, their beliefs or religious practices
- Derogatory remarks, insults or slurs about a person's skin colour or appearance
- Unwelcome remarks about a person's cultural observances
- Racist jokes and offensive nicknaming or name-calling
- "Universalizing" language and experience which serves to homogenize individual experiences and erase differences between peoples and culture
- Mocking or imitating someone's accent
Non-verbal
- Racist graffiti
- Defacing notices or posters
- Negative stereotyping of particular ethnic groups
- Written threats of a racial nature
- Discriminatory work allocation to less desirable shifts, jobs or tasks
- Literature that promotes hatred towards a group or groups
Last reviewed 
2/17/2011 6:38:21 PM
