101 replies to this topic

[Shady]

It was because of your immigration policies. You really needed that pointed out?

I wouldn't say it was completely due to immigration policies. Partly yes, but also many people immigrating choose to go to America instead for various reasons.

[bleeding heart]

I wouldn't say it was completely due to immigration policies. Partly yes, but also many people immigrating choose to go to America instead for various reasons.

Maybe, but still...if the information presented throughout this thread is correct, it was more difficult to immigrate here, because our policies were so profoundly racist.

[Shady]

Maybe, but still...if the information presented throughout this thread is correct, it was more difficult to immigrate here, because our policies were so profoundly racist.

I agree, but all I'm saying is that most people's first choice of country to immigrate to was the United States back in the day. Not Canada. For reasons other than just immigration policy.

[bleeding heart]

I agree, but all I'm saying is that most people's first choice of country to immigrate to was the United States back in the day. Not Canada. For reasons other than just immigration policy.

Sure, that sounds right.

[American Woman]

I wouldn't say it was completely due to immigration policies. Partly yes, but also many people immigrating choose to go to America instead for various reasons.

American Blacks who wanted to immigrate to Canada were denied, as white Americans were not. Many people did choose to immigrate to America instead of Canada for various reasons, but I would find it odd if Blacks were choosing America over Canada to such a degree, wouldn't you?

[Shady]

but I would find it odd if Blacks were choosing America over Canada to such a degree, wouldn't you?

It's not that suprising to me, but that's just my opinion. If one already has family members in a particular country, they usually immigrate to said country.

[American Woman]

It's not that suprising to me, but that's just my opinion. If one already has family members in a particular country, they usually immigrate to said country.

You think Blacks immigrated to America because they already had family members here? - You think the slaves kept in touch with the folks back home and generations later family members wanted to immigrate to America to be reunited?

[Shady]

You think Blacks immigrated to America because they already had family members here? - You think the slaves kept in touch with the folks back home and generations later family members wanted to immigrate to America to be reunited?

For some, yes. But surely you admit that slavery has a lot to do with the population % of blacks in America vs blacks in Canada.

[American Woman]

For some, yes. But surely you admit that slavery has a lot to do with the population % of blacks in America vs blacks in Canada.

This isn't about America's racist past; the U.S.'s racial problems were out there for the world to see. It's about the denial that Canadians have about Canada's racist past. Canada is thought to be - and presents itself as - so tolerant, the land that saved the runaway slaves as America treated them badly. But Canada wasn't all that; Canada didn't want the freed slaves who wanted to move to Canada, for example, and apparently some Canadians are in denial - Canadians who have no problem seeing things they way they are (or in lots of cases even worse) when it comes the U.S. The facts speak for themselves, and Canada did have a racist immigration policy - even as the U.S. was/is criticized for its racist past - and it accounts for Canada's practically non-existent Black population, as late as 1971 - after the Civil Rights Act. Blacks still only account for 2% of Canada's population.

Edited by American Woman, 17 April 2012 - 12:25 PM.

[Bonam]

It was because of your immigration policies. You really needed that pointed out?

I don't follow. There was not that much immigration to the West out of African nations prior to the 1970s in general, so why would you expect Canada to have had a large black population?

The US was unique in having a large black population. And that uniqueness was due to America's own earlier "immigration policy": the policy of bringing in huge numbers of African slaves.

[American Woman]

I don't follow. There was not that much immigration to the West out of African nations prior to the 1970s in general, so why would you expect Canada to have had a large black population?

The US was unique in having a large black population. And that uniqueness was due to America's own earlier "immigration policy": the policy of bringing in huge numbers of African slaves.

You'll find the answers in my subsequent posts as well as the sources that have already been cited by myself and others throughout this discussion.

[Shady]

and it accounts for Canada's practically non-existent Black population, as late as 1971 - after the Civil Rights Act. Blacks still only account for 2% of Canada's population.

As I said, I agree that it party accounts for it, but not fully. As I said, there are other reasons as well. What percentage of Canada's population is suppose to be black?

[Shady]

I don't follow. There was not that much immigration to the West out of African nations prior to the 1970s in general, so why would you expect Canada to have had a large black population?

The US was unique in having a large black population. And that uniqueness was due to America's own earlier "immigration policy": the policy of bringing in huge numbers of African slaves.

Not only that, but American immigration law also titled toward preferring European immigrants before 1965.

[jacee]

I agree, but all I'm saying is that most people's first choice of country to immigrate to was the United States back in the day. Not Canada. For reasons other than just immigration policy.

I think you are trying to understate the impact of racist
immigration policies Shady.

Fact is, when discrimination against Black people became illegal, they came to Canada in large numbers, and continue to.

The restrictions on immigration remained until 1962, when racial rules were eliminated from the immigration laws This coincided with the dissolution of the British Empire in the Caribbean, and over the next decades several hundred thousand blacks came from that region to Canada. Since then, an increasing number of immigrants from Africa have[ 12] been coming to Canada,[ 12] as is also the been coming to Canada as is also the case in the United States and Europe.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Canadians

[Jack Weber]

This isn't about America's racist past; the U.S.'s racial problems were out there for the world to see. It's about the denial that Canadians have about Canada's racist past. Canada is thought to be - and presents itself as - so tolerant, the land that saved the runaway slaves as America treated them badly. But Canada wasn't all that; Canada didn't want the freed slaves who wanted to move to Canada, for example, and apparently some Canadians are in denial - Canadians who have no problem seeing things they way they are (or in lots of cases even worse) when it comes the U.S. The facts speak for themselves, and Canada did have a racist immigration policy - even as the U.S. was/is criticized for its racist past - and it accounts for Canada's practically non-existent Black population, as late as 1971 - after the Civil Rights Act. Blacks still only account for 2% of Canada's population.

Who's denying it??

We had the Africville situation in Halifax...

We had segregated beaches in Toronot up to the 1940's...

Hell,we had a goofy coward burnng a cross on the lawn of an interracial couple in Halifax last year!!!

Edited by Jack Weber, 17 April 2012 - 12:55 PM.