I’m part English, part Welsh, part Prussian, part French
Diluted by experiences of generations born the ‘right’ colour.
Not even ‘No Irish need apply’ to tarnish their immigrant dream:
Canada, land of opportunity for the stalwart farming types.
Though great-grandpa was an accountant and failed at farming.
.
So who am I to comment on anyone else’s parts?
. My great-niece: part African
. My nephew: part First Nations
are just family. Or
Those friends from here and there whose colour
Was not as important as their character
Whose home culture was a matter of curiosity
Never animousity. We were
White kids convulsing over that time at the bar
When the guy climbed into the back of Khalid’s car
convinced he was a taxi driver,
And we never considered that maybe parts of his heart
Were incized by the stereotype he laughed off.
Because we didn’t waste time worrying about races or colours,
We were full of the wonder of all our parts racing together toward our futures.
.
.
This was created as part of an assignment in my Education of Inclusion course. This week we’re looking at cultural inclusion and racisim. One of the videos we watched was about ‘hyphenated Canadians’. We were expected to comment on this, but I just don’t feel like I can say anything about what it might be like to feel caught between cultural identities, so this poem is my offering on the subject.
Shawn L. Bird 
the sooner we leave behind some racial concepts the better. I am delighted that one of my great-granddaughters is part Maori. The more we all intermarry the less we will be looking at our differences, and the more we will be able to understand our similarities…
Though I really hope we don’t lose red hair. There’s none in my family to lose, but glorious russet hair is one of earth’s glories!
There’s plenty in my family – and I don’t think it’s going to disappear in a hurry!
🙂
Liked it very much and the point is well made; except for all those extra “u” s. But of course we always blame everything on Canada.
Just blame it on u
Social media and the internet continues to bring our world together and make differences smaller. We can choose to see that we are similar to one another, though our cultures might be different, or we can choose to perpetuate stereotypes, usually born out of insecurity and hate.
Yes. One of the primary purposes of the Rotary Youth Exchange program is the same, and its mantra: Not better, not worse, just different. 🙂
Regarding hyphenated Americans, it’s about time they dropped it, or started referring to the “whiteys” as “European Americans”. That would nicely upset more than a few people!
It just doesn’t seem important.
Some say Red-Heads re the superior race. I think they are just another element of beauty in the world. We do best to realize that there is but one race- the Human Race.
It’s just such a recessive gene, that with lots of genetic mingling will disappear, which would be sad.
feeling the way it flows…
Thanks.
This is Great. My first post on my own blog was not a poem but a piece about something very similar to this and the stereotypes i have encountered even though I and many many others are a blend of many cultures.
So many pieces!
good poem
Thank you!