“The Treatment of Racialized Peoples in

Canada”

ELIZABETH SHIN

The focus of my practicum was the topic of racism and its influence on the treatment of racialized peoples in Canada.

Specifically, I looked at exemplar cases of “Driving While Black” (DWB) and “Flying While Arab” (FWA).

Why is this sociologically relevant? Has potential to dispel or challenge certain myths Lead to a more open-minded or informed politics

Why is the issue of racial profiling a problem? Because Canada is a multicultural nation

Critical Race Theory Argues that racism is the main factor that obstructs

racialized people from achieving equality (Degaldo, 1987; Alyward, 1999)

Structure of society Racism core role “Colour-blind” approach

Themes Found in Research: Research uncovered racialized inequalities in

the Canadian criminal justice system Process of criminalization - Way we label or identify

immigrants Post 9/11

To what extent is racism in the criminal justice system associated with the phenomenon of “Driving While Black” (DWB) and “Flying While Arab” (FWA)?

Content Analysis Secondary data collection and analysis – within last 5-10

years News articles of cases Scholarly research

Examined 4 cases (2-DWB & 2-FWA) DWB – Kingston and Wilson FWA – Arar and Toronto Four

“Driving While Black” (DWB) Kingston Case (2001)

“Flying While Arab” (FWA) Arar Case (2003)

Findings from this research help us understand the nature of the connection between immigration and crime by dispelling certain myths and bringing this nexus more in line with the reality of minority or immigrant conflict with the law.

“Once an immigrant, always an immigrant”

I conclude that there is no clear-cut line indicating the specific extent of racism and its influence on various outcomes within criminal justice.

Development of a formal policy because research shows us that people are policed differently according to individuals’ ethno-cultural backgrounds

Need to ensure that practice of racial profiling is eliminated – because it exists, is discussed, and it violates the human rights code and Charter (both of which outlaw discrimination on the basis of ethno-cultural background)

Build body of evidence that includes data about the ethno-cultural background of those in conflict with the law

Draws on the perspectives from both victims of racialized policing & officers making arrests

University of Manitoba Faculty of Arts Department of Sociology

Professor Lori Wilkinson

Professor Mary-Anne Kandrack

Class of SOC 3100

THANK YOU!