Racism and Canada’s marginalized members: A literature comparison

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

4 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

07/13/2009

Category :

Philosophy & literature

Sub category :

Literature

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Summary :

Introduction
The story of May-ying
The general sense of superiority of a white man
The story of Mary John
Racism and Aborigines
Conclusion
Bibliography

Abstract

Canadians are proud of the fact that they live in a tolerant and multicultural society, but this pride is often ignorant to the fact that racism has played a large part in this country's history, and in many cases it has been systematic and caused much hardship and suffering. Systematic racism has played a significant role in canada's history, especially with regard to the Aboriginal and Chinese peoples. These are two very different ethnic groups, and they share different sets of circumstances within the Canadian experience, but there are many ways in which their experience in canada in the earlier decades of the twentieth century are similar, as racism served to define their lives. There are many textbooks and other academic works that speak of this systemic racism in canada's past, but some of the most moving accounts come from literature, as literature provides a more personal account of the effects of racism in canada on the individual, and not just the broader social, ethnic and cultural group. Two works of literature that effectively present a personal story of the effects of racism in canada are The Concubine's Children by Denise Chong and Stoney Creek Woman - The Story of Mary John by Bridget Moran.