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Next week, as part of African Heritage Month, consultant Ann Divine will be speaking about the findings of 2013 research into racial profiling amongst Nova Scotia’s consumers. The former Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission employee took some time to speak with The Coast about the subtleties of racial bias.
How would you define racial profiling?
Basically as any action which is taken by one or more people in authority with respect to a person, or persons, that is based on or defined by one’s race or colour…basically being singled out or exposed to differential treatment.
Do we know how often racial profiling of consumers happens in Nova Scotia, and where it’s taking place?
Racial profiling takes place quite frequently. It could be while driving a nice car, as in the [2003 human rights decision] with [North Preston boxer] Kirk Johnson. What became clear from that [2013 consumer] study was that many Aboriginals and African-Canadians, the study demonstrated that they were receiving the highest prevalence and frequency rate of consumer incidents [compared to] white people.
Were there any surprises from the findings of the 2013 study?
For those who are racialized, there are no surprises. What it did was to validate the experiences of those of us who are from racialized groups. I think what was surprising was the frequency in which these incidents occurred. What we discovered was that 77 percent of people had one form of consumer [racial profiling] incident. But we found out that there was something like 48.3 percent of racialized groups who had not just one, but three or four incidents.
How does racial profiling affect the person being monitored by store staff or flagged by police?
The impact is significant, because it takes its toll on you physically and emotionally. It sends real fear into people’s minds, in terms of your confidence. When you are being stopped by the police on a regular basis, or you are being treated or spoken to in a derogatory manner, these are the kinds of humiliation our people endure. Many of them are afraid to speak out because they feel so humiliated, and feel that there is nothing they can do. So, they were really grateful when the [human rights commission] started this study. It gave them the opportunity to speak out about racism.
Is there any scenario—perhaps airport security screening, for instance—where profiling may be the proper thing to do?
Our security officers at the airport have to do their job, and I respect what they do. It’s for all our safety. If I’m going to go with a definition of racial profiling, then we know when we’re going through the airport how we’re going to be profiled. We know we’re going to be searched. We know what’s going to happen. So, you are prepared.
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This article appears in Feb 19-25, 2015.
A distinct lack of education of culture and heritage is one of the triggers of racial profiling. There’s the notion that what is portrayed in the media is correct, therefore a person is this way or that. Fear also plays a role as the root causes of racial profiling across industry and generally everyday life.
An insightful piece which commands respect based as it is on a breadth of successful Provincial, National and International expertise gained at the highest levels in her fields.
Respectfully yours,
Professor David Divine
I am white,have long hair and lots of tattoos, i get profiled. Which cards do I play if clerks happen to be black?
Or do I go about my day and not even care about “who is what?”
Your race card is an epic failure. You hold yourself down so LEAVE ME ALONE!
Thank you very much.
Those who act like human beings shall be treated as such.
Profiling is ok by me because I know the difference between “someone just doing their job” and someone picking on my color. In my experiences in NS, blacks have shown far more racist attributes and attitudes than any white person.
How many white kids get swarmed every summer by large groups of black people in HRM?Especially during Busker fest?? That stat right there should tell you plain as day who the real racist folk and their kids are in HRM. Fact!
Thank you very much.
So does this give the “Go Ahead” to your black youth to keep swarming white kids walking home alone through The Halifax Common or during Busker Fest by the Ferry Terminal?
Yeah it sure does LADY!
Who is racist?
We all know who.