Should the Claim for Social Justice Invalidate the Claim for Racial Justice?
This was originally written for the Singh Family Distinguished Speaker essay contest. The lecture was given by Christiane Taubira, a former leftist French politician on the topic of “Should the claim for social equality invalidates the claim for racial equality?”. Although I did not win I was one of three out of over a hundred essays to receive an honorable mention
The topics of social and racial equality are an incredibly divisive issue at this time as the political mainstream remains divided on how to tackle equality. The more right-wing believe that social equality is what should be strived for, often arguing that racial equality already exists, and the left-wing argue for action that creates racial equality such as affirmative action and reparations for slavery. Many groups and organizations have been gaining traction and relevance in recent years as this issue has come to the mainstream. Principally among these groups was the Black Lives Matter which over the summer of 2020 organized perhaps the largest civil rights movement in history. Often ignored though is the idea that racial and social equality must rely on one another to be effective. Social equality cannot exist without racial equality and racial equality can only go so far in creating true social equality. But racial equality must be achieved first for true social equality to be achieved, in the systems we have now, and with the history of oppression that reaches into the modern-day arguing for social equality is a foolhardy endeavor. Social equality is likely to ignore the history and background of racialized people, as well social equality does not address the needs of different groups and lifting them specifically out of poverty, social equality also can only come about when all people are equal, but you first must eliminate racial barriers for this to be achieved.
For centuries black and indigenous people in Canada and America have faced some of the greatest repression and acts of violence imaginable, not to discount the struggle faced by other racialized people. The enslavement of black people from Africa, their relocation and further enslavement in America, the displacement of indigenous people from their traditional lands across North America, and the suppression of their culture and language are some of the worst atrocities committed by Europeans and their descendants on black and indigenous people. These tragedies are recent in the memories of those they affected, and the painful repercussions still actively affect their communities. Ignoring these modern effects is perhaps the greatest mistake of the often good-intentioned people who advocate for social equality and equal treatment for all peoples. These atrocities still affect and actively harm black and indigenous people, and they must be corrected actively, laws that outlaw discrimination are not enough. Without some sort of reparation or form of equity for these people, then that equal treatment is nothing more than a pleasant lie.
In Canada, a contentious issue is the special privileges and rights given to the First Peoples of Canada. Although on paper it might seem like this gives them special benefits or that it unfairly disrupts social equality, in actuality, it is meant to correct the mistakes of the past and protect the racial minority from further harm. It protects the rights of historically marginalized groups in this case the indigenous of this country and assures that their negotiated treaty rights are assured. Laws and actions that provide protection and special rights to minorities and discriminated racial groups might seem like they disrupt the claim of social equality, but in actuality, they protect the assured rights of these minorities. Without action that recognizes the differences of racial and cultural groups, social equality is meaningless. Protection to practice their cultural heritage, to self govern, and to avoid certain taxes or costs, as well as other legal rights, might seem unfair to the majority race but it protects the historically discriminated against the majority group and ensures that they are recognized for their heritage and claim to the land that non-native Canadians live on.
Although in Canada it is illegal to discriminate according to race in the hiring process, people with ethnic-sounding names are routinely contacted less for job interviews than their white-named equally qualified counterparts. Despite it being illegal to discriminate because of race, it still happens and often. Things like affirmative action and diversity quotas are not equal for all people, but they correct injustices against discriminated peoples. Having these systems in place that remove barriers of entry to jobs, education, and more might take away jobs from the majority racial group, but they also ensure that all races are treated equally in the hiring process and that bias either conscious or subconscious is defeated as best as possible.
The end goal of any just society should be complete and total social equality. But we do not live in a just society. To achieve social equality, we must first correct racial injustices and inequality. And this can only be done through laws that affirm and establish racial equality. Social equality is an empty and hollow promise when people are still discriminated against due to their race. Society must ensure that its most disenfranchised, often those of certain races, and uplifted and secured in their position as equals, even if this means that there is no true social equality for a while. When, and only when, there is no more discrimination due to race, and all races and peoples are equal can society begin the process of true social equality. But racial equality, and the equality of identities like gender and sexual identity, must come first.
