Hand-mapped stories of ‘Canadian’ Blackness, Failed Multiculturalism, and Black Humanity in a Predominantly White Mid-Sized City in South-Western Ontario
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Date
2022-05-13
Authors
Kwarko-Fosu, Nana Akua
Advisor
Lopez, Kimberly
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Waterloo
Abstract
The happy, upbeat narratives of multiculturalism in Canada misrepresent lived experiences of individuals who embody Canada’s narrative of multiculturalism and cultural diversity (Berry, 2013; Walcott & Abdillahi, 2019). This thesis asks young Black-‘Canadian’ adults to reflect on when and how they show up as their true, authentic selves while in their predominantly white mid-sized city (PWMC), Kitchener-Waterloo. Using art-based methodologies (Betancourt, 2015) and collective reflection (Mann & Walsh, 2013), I braided (Bancroft, 2018) the discussions to race and multiculturalism literature into five moments: Racist Experiences in Kitchener-Waterloo, Coping in Predominantly White (PW) spaces, Representation: Who needs it, Negotiation to Full Humanity and Community, and Encompassing All Peoples in Communities. In collaboration with the volunteers in this project, we call on those living in Kitchener-Waterloo to address the harms contributed to by racialisation and racism in tangible ways.