EDITORIAL

Not Black enough?

It is a well known fact that Blacks come in different shades of skin colour.

Some Black people in our Caribbean community  are of a “light” complexion. Some are described as copper-toned.Then, of course, there are others who are very dark.

But shades of Black should never be a cause for concern in our multicultural society.

Many in our own community will tell you that they have the ultimate  test for Blackness.They say if you have one drop of Black blood coursing through your veins, brethren, you are Black. That test seems simple enough.Check your ancestry.

So it came as a big surprise to learn that a Canadian federal department has denied funding to several Black organizations in our community which were informed that their leadership was not sufficiently Black.

Several reputable Black organization in our community such as the Ontario Black History Society and Operation Black Vote Canada recently received these rejection letters.

Not Black enough? What are they smoking up there in Ottawa?

These organizations had applied to Employment and Social Development Canada for funding  through a program, called the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative. This program is designed to  help Canadian Black-led non-profit and charitable organizations to “build capacity.”

The applications guidelines say at least two-thirds of the leadership and the governance structure must be people who self-identify as Black. The mandate of the organization must also be focused on serving Black communities.

The minister  heading Employment and Social Development Canada is himself a Black man who came to Canada as a refugee – Ahmed Hussen.

Surely,  Minister Hussen must be fully aware of the need for such a program.

Was an official or officials in his department trying to embrrass him by sending out these rejection letters?

We do not know.

Understandably,  Minister Hussen was not pleased about the letters and he has demanded a retraction.

He said he discussed with his department’s officials how such a mistake could have happened and has implemented measures to make sure it does not happen again

In an interview with The Caribbean Camera, Hussen  explained that the fumding program was a  new one and that the government has the responsibility to make sure that the money from the program  is received only by Black organizations.

But can there be any doubt as to whether Operation Black Vote Canada or the Ontario Black History Society are Black or Black-led organizations.

Velma Morgan, the chair of Operation Black Vote Canada, said everyone on her team is Black.

And anyone who has attended a meeting of the Ontario Black History Society will tell you that its leaders are Black.

No wonder questions are still being raised today in the Cariibean community as to whether the rejection letters were an attempt to sabotage the program.

Minister Hussen has tried to assure us that this mistake will not happen again.

But we believe that this matter warrants a full internal investigation.