When a horrendous event like Charlottesville happens, it causes all of us to think about the kind of world we live in. But should we Canadians feel superior to our American neighbours to the south?

Today in The Conversation Canada, we bring you two provocative articles that every Canadian should read.

Melissa Gismondi, a Canadian academic who is a lecturer in women, gender and sexuality the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, says the impression by the rest of the world that Canada is exceptional in its tolerance and diversity ignores both our history and the country’s current problems. The truth is, says Prof. Gismondi, Canadians have a tendency not to be not less racist than Americans, but to be less loud about it.

And Michelle Stack of the University of British Columbia writes a very personal essay about how Charlottesville has caused her to reflect on her role as a white educator and what she can do personally to make a difference.

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