Dear Editor:
I was shocked in reading the front-page news article titled “Local councillor critical of `woke’ hiring practices” in Wingham Advance Times’ July 17 edition. Chris Palmer, a North Huron councillor, when asked to explain his criticism, responded in a way that regrettably demonstrates how deeply and broadly the distortion of the term “woke” is influencing Canadian politics, in now reaching municipal levels.
After adopting far right political influences from the United States, in Canada the descent came down from extremist right-wing views in Ontario at the provincial level – primarily voiced by the New Blue Party of Ontario in the 2022 provincial elections – as well as at the federal level, as per Pierre Poilievre’s consistent complaints about “woke” Liberal policies, during his former Conservative Party leadership. The irony of Poilievre’s supposed support of “free speech” – while he at the same time advocated reductions to universities based on false accusations of their “censorship” and, furthermore, called for the termination of Canadian Public Broadcasting as well as all “establishment media” was fascinating.
Now we find ourselves subjected to Councillor Palmer’s explanation of his criticism here: “Progressive ideas like “wokeism” deserve some pushback. After all, freedom of expression refers to me as well. Both sides of any issue should be made known. [Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts endeavour] to even the playing field, but actually creates racism and discrimination. Regarding hiring practices, “merit” should be the only qualification.”
In the councillor declaring the above, I actually call out Councillor Palmer as a source who perpetuates racism and discrimination, for two reasons. First of all, he creates a `false dichotomy’ by assuming that the category of “merit” somehow is excluded from job applications if and when persons perceived as “minorities” get hired and, worse, implies that such individuals have not brought with them the same or similar job qualifications needed.
Secondly, the reference to “wokeism” by politicians particularly must be stopped, for the reason that in recent years throughout North America (and beyond) that term has been co-opted by the far right and the original meaning and intention distorted and exploited in its right-wing extremist political reference against any and every form of “social justice.”
Fact: The authentic origin of the term “woke” happened approximately a century ago, used by Black Americans to point to the need to be awake and aware about mechanisms of anti-Blackness. Please read this online CNN News article, posted July 10, 2022: “How `woke’ went from a social justice term to a pejorative favored by some conservatives” at www.cnn.com/2022/o7/10/us/woke-race-deconstructed-newsletter-rea/index.html.
Also, three years ago I watched the July 10, 2022 episode, called “The Woke Wars,” of the CNN TV series titled United Shades of America. Among the educators on-camera, one of them pointed out that teaching of the whole history of America was “not to demonize white people,” while another teacher added that teaching the fuller history is about “adding to, not about erasing and replacing.”
As a former journalist and media educator through 40 years, who continues to do my best to shine light on the truth – and expose what is misrepresentation and disinformation – the same holds true in Canada, in regard to the serious quest to be more proactively inclusive and welcoming, not just in the metropolis yet also in our rural communities.
In closing, I sincerely hope that Councillor Palmer apologizes, and that the entire council of the Township of North Huron be open-minded, accurately informed, and supportive of any initiatives not limited to equitable hiring practices yet also including further ways to welcome the wider diversity of the human family into our communities.
Dr. Sandy Greer, PhD,
Blyth
