EDITORIAL: Black History Month statements made by Pickering Council members

There’s an addendum to this article…see the end of the article.

Recently, a commentary written by Councillor Lisa Robinson was published in The Oshawa/Durham Central Newspaper. It is important that many people be informed about what the councillor wrote.

Councillor Robinson wrote: [The text of Robinson’s statement is published as is without editing]

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 priviledge’.

Really? II that was not a racist statement I do not know what is. This same person is to champion 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 insecunty 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 people? 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 division by celebrating differences of color.

I support Afro-Canadian contributions to this great nation. I do not support the ‘BLACK HISTORY 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.

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Mayor Ashe has published a statement on Councillor Robinson’s Black History Month Op Ed.

[The text of Mayor Ashe’s statement is published as is without editing.]

Mayor Ashe wrote:

Before concluding yesterday’s Executive Committee meeting, I felt compelled to address a recently published opinion piece by Councillor Robinson regarding Black History Month. The sentiments expressed in her article have sparked outrage and hurt within our community, prompting me to address this matter with the utmost urgency yesterday.

I believe that the recently published column is, in my view, racist, irresponsible, and unethical. We should not give it more attention than it deserves, except for the fact that it causes real harm. This does not represent the City and what we stand for.

At the meeting, I urged Councillor Robinson to issue a public retraction and offer a sincere apology for the harmful statements that she had publicly made. Although she did not express willingness to do so at that time, I hope that after some reflection, she will promptly and decisively do the right thing.

In the interim, I offer a sincere apology to all members of the Black community. The City of Pickering was proud to partake in the recent celebrations across Durham Region for Black History Month, recognizing the outstanding contributions, achievements, and positive impacts of Afro-Canadians. We hosted hundreds of community members at the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex last week, and it is very upsetting that recent remarks would attempt to take away from that.

To dismiss the celebration of Black History Month is to erase the significant contributions of a people who, despite historical adversity, have left an indelible mark on the development, progress, and richness of our society.

I will be attending the next Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce meeting, where I will take the opportunity to speak directly with leaders of our community. This dialogue is crucial for understanding the impact of recent events, and ensuring that their voices are heard.

While I firmly believe in the principles of free speech, I must remind Councillor Robinson of the sworn oath she has taken to respect and abide by the wishes of this Council. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is a cornerstone of our values, and the sentiments expressed in the opinion piece run counter to the principles we have collectively championed.

On behalf of Council, staff, and residents, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building a future where every resident, regardless of background or heritage, feels not just recognized, but genuinely valued and unequivocally included.

Kevin Ashe
Mayor, City of Pickering

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Once more, Councillor Robinson steps up to the plate swinging at “narrow-mindedness” in Council or in our society. Months ago, she published statements criticizing the exclusivity of flying the flag that represents the LGBTQ+ community. Her message implied that flying one flag was discrimination against all other community groups who did not have their representative flag flying.

It seems Councillor Robinson has again picked up the same bat implying the same message of possible discrimination: Black History Month is discriminatory as other groups lack any acknowledgement as that given to the Blacks.

Councillor Robinson may have justification for her statement if one takes her logic at face value: ‘acknowledging one group only is disacknowledging all other groups.’ The bare-bones logic of her statement may make sense and be logical. However, what is bothersome about her position each time is that she emphasizes injustices as if the institutions or organizations behind these incidents were trying to cause harm, denigrate certain factions, and discriminate against a social group. The Councillor is focussing on the problems in communication, in promoting messages. With all due respect to the Councillor, the institutions or organizations behind these incidents are doing the very opposite. They are trying to acknowledge and pay respect to specific or individual groups. They do not intend offence, insult or racial harm to the unnamed.

There are problems with Robinson’s most recent statement, problems with generalizations that have partial validity, and conclusions she claims are based on history but again are sweeping generalizations that deserve broader consideration, and wider discussion. There are sensitive issues at hand here and the actions that have taken place by the institutions or organizations behind them were not developed overnight in small group discussions. These actions took time, deliberation and much highly emotional discussion. The final goals of these deliberations, discussions and policy enactments were constructive, positive and well-intended.

To impetuously or impulsively criticize the well-intended efforts of our institutions and public organizations using the cudgels of racism and bias is much like the journalist muckrakers of the 1890-1920s. Worse, this kind of public discourse smacks of the political malevolence of the McCarthy era of the 1950s.

Voters did not cast ballots to elect muckrakers or McCarthyites. They voted for responsible representation that eschewed social upheaval for social well-being.

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So you disagree with Councillor Robinson? Then read….