Hand-mapped stories of ‘Canadian’ Blackness, Failed Multiculturalism, and Black Humanity in a Predominantly White Mid-Sized City in South-Western Ontario

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.