Questions Immigrants Find Offensive
Immigration is a whole industry in Canada because it is a country that does not replenish itself. Women who have been here longer opt to have one or two kids or none at all.
It is an industry because of the money the government invests in immigration programs. A lot of digital ink has been spent about stereotypes immigrants then and now face, especially language and cultural bias.
What we seldom talk about are challenges organizations face as they help immigrants resettle in a new country. Resettlement workers are sometimes wary of immigrants. They don’t know what to say. An innocent question might be regarded as racist.
For example, ‘Are you happy to be in Canada?’ might be taken the wrong way. Comments about what immigrants are wearing when resettlement officers welcome them to Canada might be perceived as offensive.
People working in government offices or organizations that help newcomers are trained, obviously. They cannot make offensive comments intentionally. It might cost them their jobs.
Comments and questions are an attempt to break the ice, tentative steps to communication. What aggravates matter is language. They don’t find their work easy if immigrants struggle with English or French, Canada’s official languages.
Such workers and long-settled Canadians in general can avoid being labeled racist by giving immigrants the communication driving seat, whatever the level of language proficiency. ‘You can ask me anything about Canada, where to find things and how they are done,’ is a good start.
The where and how are important because you cannot assume that because someone comes from a certain country, she doesn’t know how a microwave oven works.
Long settled Canadians can also use some common sense and avoid asking questions such as:
1. ‘Aren’t you hot in those long clothes?’ Muslims will find that offensive.
2. ‘You have a nice Jamaican accent.’ Not all black people come from Jamaica.
3. ‘I’m sponsoring a child in Africa.’ Europe colonized Africa. Instead of Europe paying the owners of the land rent, it made them slaves and charged them a ‘poll tax.’ The Queen also sent them to World War 1 and World War 2 to fight for her.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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