Blackface: A racist Halloween costume

Halloween: It’s pumpkins, ghosts, goblins…and idiots who think it’s funny to put on blackface as part of their costumes. Today in The Conversation Canada, Philip Howard of McGill University looks at the latest controversy involving U.S. broadcaster Megyn Kelly, who is expected to lose her job after defending the practice of white people donning blackface for Halloween.

We’ve got another interesting article that addresses an important issue about race. Jacqueline Scott of the University of Toronto explains a recent announcement by the CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-op that the outdoor company has failed by not having more Black and Indigenous models in its advertising.

Jason MacLean of the University of Saskatchewan has reviewed Bill C-69, the federal legislation that would create a new environmental assessment process for Canada’s largest natural resource projects. His verdict: there’s lots of things wrong with the bill, but not for the reasons the usual critics are listing.

And finally…Sarah Giles of the University of Ottawa tells us about the upcoming Family Medicine Forum, an annual meeting for family doctors. Those attending the conference, she says, must resist sponsorship and marketing pitches of Big Pharma.

Regards,

Scott White

Editor

Today's Featured Articles

Megyn Kelly appears on the set of her show, ‘Megyn Kelly Today’ at NBC Studios in New York on September 21, 2017. Kelly questioned why dressing up in blackface is wrong. Kelly now says she understands that she needs to be more sensitive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision - Charles Sykes

If you’re thinking of doing blackface for Halloween, just don’t

Philip S. S. Howard, McGill University

Many claim the offensive part about blackface is from a long time ago and claim blackface costumes, especially at Halloween, are innocent fun. What could be the harm?

There is a long history of ‘visual apartheid’ in the advertising of the outdoors industry – an absence of Indigenous, Black and other people of colour. (Unsplash/Esther wiegardt)

‘Do white people dominate the outdoors?’

Jacqueline L. Scott, University of Toronto

Canada's iconic retailer of outdoor adventure gear recently decided to change its mostly white image by diversifying the catalogue to better reflect the reality of its customers.

Bill C-69 would update the assessment process for new energy projects in Canada. Shutterstock

Kill Bill C-69 – it undermines efforts to tackle climate change

Jason MacLean, University of Saskatchewan

Bill C-69 will slow down Canada's efforts to transition to a decarbonized and sustainable economy.

The Family Medicine Forum, Nov. 9, 2017, the Palais des congrès de Montréal. (Twitter/@FamilyMedForum)

Family doctors are overdosing on industry sponsorship

Sarah Giles, University of Ottawa

Next month's annual Family Medicine Forum is an opportunity for your family doctor -- to cave or resist in the face of Big Pharma sponsorship and marketing.

Politics

Culture + Society

  • Migrants travel in groups for a simple reason: safety

    Karen Jacobsen, Tufts University

    More than two-thirds of Central American migrants will experience violence on their journey through Mexico, from robbery and extortion to rape. Caravans create safety in numbers.

Environment + Energy