By: judy haiven

judy haiven — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 18:46:49 +0000

Excellent article. Thanks Raymond.

By: OH&S practitioner

OH&S practitioner — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 07:37:07 +0000

Thanks Raymond, I grew up in what was then the rural area of Halifax and had to endure racial name calling from 1st grade right up to high school almost every day. From primary until I was about 8 we were singled out and strapped by the principal of the school. We had to physically fight for our right to be allowed on the schools grounds. You become an adult and have to work in the workforce in order to provide for your family, low and behold, those racist name calling persons are managers, supervisors, or your superiors in those workplaces. What does one do? These racist people become our privileged police officer, lawyer, union representatives and other authoritative positions who’s goal is to strive on in-sighting hatred. They get a pass. I reached out for psychological help and spoke with a doctor who explained to me that systemically, this is the norm in Nova Scotia. I worked for Dalhousie Facilities Management whom one day lured me into a meeting, warned me not to ask questions about a previous workplace accident or there would be consequences. Well, I worked that day and knew I had to see my doctor about the threat I received, but low and behold, the police were at my door trying to entice me to meet with him down a dark pathway behind the house. After five years of fighting for inclusion to get answers from my union, I found out three months ago that management said I threatened to shoot another person the day of the meeting. I was denied the right to grieve through the process of being represented by my union and treated like a criminal or some kind of murder. Coincidentally Nova Scotia Human Rights said they lost my complaint as soon as I filed it. This is classic systemic racism we as black peoples have to endure every day. Talk about anxiety disorder. Mentally, physically and emotionally we need all the support we can get to help us through these troubled times. Why are we always perceived (profiled) as a threat to our society. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to get out of bed but we must continue on in our many struggles. I have now obtained a certificate in Occupational Health and Safety in order to protect myself from harm and the under-minding of others who practice racial exclusion. Were crying out for all the help we can get.

Comments on: Raymond Sheppard: Nova Scotia’s much desired ‘I am not a racist’ validation pass

By: judy haiven

By: OH&S practitioner