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jess_mango's review
4.0
An insightful discussion of race issues in Canada, specifically Toronto. Many of these issues will be extremely familiar to those of us from the USA.
soph_sol's review
4.0
A non-fiction book about racism and particularly anti-Black racism in Canada, by activist writer Desmond Cole.
I am a Canadian myself, but honestly, so much of the anti-racism rhetoric I hear is still so thoroughly based in a US context, given the English speaking media environment and online world are so US-dominated in a lot of ways. So it was helpful to read a book that was clearly and specifically talking about the Canadian context, with discussion about the Canadian activism being done and the Canadian police force's use of violence with impunity and the like. Canada likes to think of ourselves as being better than the US, but that's an extremely low bar and lets Canada think there's no work that needs to be done here when there's SO much that needs addressing.
A good and worthwhile read.
I am a Canadian myself, but honestly, so much of the anti-racism rhetoric I hear is still so thoroughly based in a US context, given the English speaking media environment and online world are so US-dominated in a lot of ways. So it was helpful to read a book that was clearly and specifically talking about the Canadian context, with discussion about the Canadian activism being done and the Canadian police force's use of violence with impunity and the like. Canada likes to think of ourselves as being better than the US, but that's an extremely low bar and lets Canada think there's no work that needs to be done here when there's SO much that needs addressing.
A good and worthwhile read.
mel_sh's review against another edition
4.75
"The Star wanted my profile but not my voice, my diversity but not my blackness."
being born and raised in canada, the racism in this country has never shocked me. i remember learning about racism in high school like it was this concept that only occurred in the united states and being told that the mistreatment of the indigenous people was a thing of the past. it was such a direct contrast from the reality i would learn growing up and especially going into college. it was in college that i took a class specifically about prejudice where i learned about desmond cole and his work and i've had this book on my radar since. even with that class and the things i've observed and researched on my own, this book is such an important and eye-opening read. so many stories told in this were news reports i couldn't believe i hadn't heard before, since they'd happened so close to home. just goes to show how good canada has gotten at hiding its skeletons. i think this book should be essential reading for canadians. we've gotten so comfortable, as a country, to pat ourselves on the back and congratulate ourselves for "not being as bad as the united states" but this book proves that we are, indeed, just as bad and are really good at hushing it up and being sneaky about it. and this book only goes into depth about anti-black racism. it only scratches the surface of the appalling treatment of its indigenous people. desmond cole's writing will make you uncomfortable and it will make you feel guilty and it absolutely should. if you are angry at his words, you are part of the problem
"black people just can't win in this white supremacist construct called canada, which only exists through the ongoing genocide and subjugation of indigenous peoples and the theft and destruction of their traditional indigenous territories."
being born and raised in canada, the racism in this country has never shocked me. i remember learning about racism in high school like it was this concept that only occurred in the united states and being told that the mistreatment of the indigenous people was a thing of the past. it was such a direct contrast from the reality i would learn growing up and especially going into college. it was in college that i took a class specifically about prejudice where i learned about desmond cole and his work and i've had this book on my radar since. even with that class and the things i've observed and researched on my own, this book is such an important and eye-opening read. so many stories told in this were news reports i couldn't believe i hadn't heard before, since they'd happened so close to home. just goes to show how good canada has gotten at hiding its skeletons. i think this book should be essential reading for canadians. we've gotten so comfortable, as a country, to pat ourselves on the back and congratulate ourselves for "not being as bad as the united states" but this book proves that we are, indeed, just as bad and are really good at hushing it up and being sneaky about it. and this book only goes into depth about anti-black racism. it only scratches the surface of the appalling treatment of its indigenous people. desmond cole's writing will make you uncomfortable and it will make you feel guilty and it absolutely should. if you are angry at his words, you are part of the problem
"black people just can't win in this white supremacist construct called canada, which only exists through the ongoing genocide and subjugation of indigenous peoples and the theft and destruction of their traditional indigenous territories."
ovenbird_reads's review
5.0
If you live in Canada you need to read this book. If you live in Canada and believe that racism is a thing that occurs in other countries but not here, you need to read this book.
lsparrow's review
4.0
An important look at black resistance in Canada and the historical national context. Canadians often like to see black racism as an issue that stays south of the border this book looks at how this issue plays out in our country.
christie_esau's review
4.0
A harrowing and important read, which likely suffered on my end only because I recently finished Disorientation and am concurrently reading Policing Black Lives. I think I'd have preferred of Cole leaned more into either the scholarly or the autoethnographic side of this work. That said, important reading for Canadians who enjoy the privilege of racism-lite.
dcheers's review
medium-paced
5.0
A look into the life of a Black activist. The author gives insight into the rippling and binding effects of systemic racism. An important read for white Canadians (and beyond).