By Osob Adus
Opinion
As the month of February comes to a close, it’s important to reflect on Black history in Canada and the progress we have made as a society to be more inclusive. This year’s Black History Month has prompted me to reflect on a segment of my journey as a Black woman in Canada and my role in contributing to a more diverse and accepting environment at the community level. Having lived in Burlington for a number of years, I have seen the progress and cultural advancements in the city.
Burlington today is very different than 20 years ago. As a Black Muslim woman, there is no doubt that Burlington today is much more inclusive, although we still have not addressed some core problems. So when someone reminisces on how they enjoyed our city more twenty years ago, I often reflect and struggle to understand their perspective. While I understand these comments are usually with regard to maintaining Burlington’s infrastructure and history, I would argue that for many, including myself, Burlington has grown for the better.
I first moved to Burlington in 1999 after falling in love with the city on a family road trip. Having previously lived in Toronto, my family and I stumbled upon this beautiful city on our way to Niagara for a day trip. I was stunned by the lakeshore scenery and peaceful neighbourhoods. I knew immediately that Burlington felt like home, and started making some recommendations to my late husband and saying that we needed to start looking for a home in Burlington.
When I returned home that day, I began searching for homes in Burlington. Eager to move to the city, over the course of several weeks, we packed, ready to move to this new city. Despite concerns from my extended family about the city’s diversity, it didn’t matter to me that we would be one of the only Black families in the area, I didn’t mind being the first either, if that was what it entailed.
Naively, I believed that this would be an easy process. It wasn’t until I experienced workplace microaggressions [see Editor’s Note below] about my identity that I realized just how hard it would be. I would frequently be asked: “Why Burlington?” — an unwelcoming question with racial undertones that really meant “What are you doing here?” Despite uncomfortable questions and microaggressions, I remained adamant that Burlington was the best city to raise a family and that I was going to live here regardless.
Now, having lived in Burlington for 20 years, I look back on experiences like this and I am thankful I remained firm on my decision to live here. I’ve been fortunate enough to witness the growth of this great city into a multicultural and diverse environment. I’ve also witnessed the changes in infrastructure, recreational facilities, and a gradual increase in religious diversity.
I’m proud to have been one of the many first minority families in southern Burlington, and I’m even more proud to have contributed to making Burlington a more welcoming place. More importantly, I’m proud to be a Burlingtonian!
So this Black History Month, I urge everyone to reflect on how they have positively contributed to Burlington and how they can continue contributing to making our city more inclusive. Reach out to your neighbours, educate yourself on important issues, and listen to Black voices.
Editor’s Note: microaggressions, which is a term that has been in existence since the 1970s, are the daily, brief, often subtle comments, acts, slights, or environmental conditions, either intentional or unintentional, that Black people and other minority groups encounter that suggest that they do not fit in, do not belong, and generally express prejudice towards them. These can range from the example given in this article to Black individuals being followed and watched closely in an environment, while their white peers are left in peace; they are the kinds of acts and comments that, if you have not experienced it yourself, can be difficult to understand with regard to their impact on the individuals and community experiencing them, in both the short-term and long-term.
Osob Adus, aside from being a proud Burlingtonian for 20 years, is a diversity educator, an entrepreneur, and Burlington’s 2017 citizen of the year.
“Write with integrity, gently speak with the truth.”
