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Editor's column: Is racism on the rise in Richmond?

Well, that’s an interesting twist. The police have said no charges will be laid against the woman who let loose with a racist rant in a video that went viral last Friday.
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In a video that went viral on WeChat, a Chinese social media platform, a woman is seen yelling racial slurs in a Richmond parking lot.

Well, that’s an interesting twist.

The police have said no charges will be laid against the woman who let loose with a racist rant in a video that went viral last Friday. However, they are warning folks who have called her out over the incident to watch their language or they may be the ones facing criminal charges.

At first blush, it seems like a, “Say what? She’s the one who hurled the verbal assault!” But if you’ve actually read some of the Facebook comments back at her (I don’t recommend it) you’ll note plenty of folks are doing that and more.

I know I should quit being shocked by what people say on social media, but... Even more mind-boggling is the rich irony of people defending tolerance and decency with intolerance and indecency.

But as discouraging as it is to catch these glimpses of humanity’s ugly side, I’m reminded that those nasty posts are the minority. By far, most are an earnest defence of diversity and inclusion.

But let’s step away from social media for a minute and think about what could be learned here. Sorry to be one of those irritatingly cheery, this-isn’t-a-problem,-it’s-a-growth-opportunity types, but surely, making national news for all the wrong reasons warrants a bit of reflection. So let’s look at who we are, how we’re presenting ourselves and ask the perennial question: Is racism on the rise? Remember, one of the slates in the last civic election ran on a platform of cultural harmony because its members saw a worrying trend in the other direction.

So about that question: Is racism on the rise or is it what it’s always been, only now everyone has a phone to record it, or is it even less than ever before?

As a white person, I’m hesitant to even wade into that debate. What can’t be denied, however, is the fact racism is still alive and well, and that is reason enough to look for underlying forces. Granted, we could just put it down to a few ignorant people, but no one operates in a vacuum. Social factors are always at play.

My theory is that there is a growing sense of anxiety and polarization. Too many people are feeling pushed to the margins, frightened by the cultural changes they see around them, and panicked that they can’t keep up economically. Add to that toxic mix, dire warnings of the planet’s demise, and, well, you’ve got a lot of stressed-out people looking for a target for their frustration and fear.

This, in no way, excuses racism, and I do believe people need to be held to account for their behaviour. (In fact, I’m a little perplexed by the RCMP’s decision.) Regardless, I think we’ll get further if we focus on underlying factors. Moreover, when we ignore feelings of alienation, they tend to come back to bite us. Look at the election of Donald Trump.

Speaking of elections, what about that billboard that reads: “Say no to mass immigration” and urges people to vote for the People’s Party of Canada?

People want a simple explanation for their complicated reality. Too often, race will do.