The uncovering and unexpected release of pictures and video of Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau in painted blackface has dominated headlines here in Canada and in several places in the world. With this revelation, can we then say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a racist? Somebody somewhere is so bent to thwart Mr. Trudeau’s re-election bid. This is a hatchet job and the timing can’t be more perfect.
From what I have seen of the debonair leader in the past 4 years, my answer is an emphatic no! The Canadian leader in the past few years has been the most statesmanly head of a government in the world with his deeds, actions and utterances. While many are fanning embers of discord, racism and discrimination with their policies, actions and sometimes inaction, Justin Trudeau stood heads and shoulders above the rest championing the rights of the minorities and women.
Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau
According to history, blackface is said to date back about 200 years when white performers use black polish to darken their faces as to depict in an unpleasant manner the black slaves at shows. The action then was purely racist and demeaning.
For many, Canada is utopia, under the leadership of Justin Trudeau the dystopian characteristics seen in many developed countries are virtually non-existence. Canada has the best humanitarian and refugee programme in the world. In the midst of the multiculturalism tempest and xenophobia that has engulfed many countries in Europe and the United States as shadow nationalism rises above all else, Canada under Justin Trudeau remains an oasis of calm, free of the racial tensions and violence.
Mr. Justin Trudeau is now a butt of joke on late-night television and mocked online with numerous memes but one fact is salient and incontrovertible, he is NOT a racist even though his political rivals for the lack of a better way to assassinate his character will make a wont of calling him one as the ‘blackfacegate’ brouhaha lingers.
Mr. Trudeau must be commended for owning up and taking responsibility immediately the pictures came to light. He did not stall nor postulate excuses for his bad judgement, rather he took full ownership of the deed and apologized genuinely. His emotions and revulsion for his action are so real that one can touch it.
“This is something that I deeply, deeply regret. Darkening your face regardless of the context or circumstances is always unacceptable because of the racist history of blackface. I should have understood that then and I never should have done it,” Trudeau said in Winnipeg. “I have always acknowledged that I come from a place of privilege, but I now need to acknowledge that comes with a massive blind spot,” he said.
The fact that racism and discrimination either subtle or harsh exists in the world is not oblivious but for Mr. Trudeau’s political rivals to suddenly become champions of inequality is laughable.
While the kerfuffle over the blackface images of Mr. Trudeau rages on, the faux outrage from his opponents who sees the path to the seat of power in Ottawa by dressing in an anti-racism toga will soon realize that the attire does not fit. Canadians and the whole world know that the Prime Minister is not a racist today or yesterday.
Look at the Canadian government under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, it is the most balanced government in the world comprising of women, whites, blacks, Asians, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and many more. He put diversity at the heart of the government, making it a government for all by all. While many countries are shutting their doors on refugees, Canada under Trudeau became the sanctuary from people running away from persecution, war, discrimination and stigmatization. No nation is perfect and Canada is no exception but the pervasive and ubiquitous racism and inequality that are seen in many countries are far less visible in Canada. Justin Trudeau and Canada are paragons of equality, racial justice and harmony, no other leader in the world today or country can compare.
Mr. Trudeau must not be condemned or crucified for this colossal poor judgement, we should take more than a cursory look at his sterling antecedents especially since he came the Prime Minister. Many heads have been cut because of mere headache, this time, it must be different!
