Mythical encounters: challenging racism in the diverse city

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to situate the idea that the City of Toronto is a leader on addressing issues of diversity, racism and democracy within the context of diversity discourse and the racial norms that are incited by it. Design/methodology/approach A genealogy and critical discourse analysis of City of Toronto documents from 1975 to 2017 involving consultations with racial Others on issues of diversity, race and/or racism was conducted. Findings The author shows how the specific racial norms that continue to make up diversity discourse as “truth” in the City of Toronto are reproduced through the commodification of racial Others and the re-framing of their racial claims, to re-generate the narrative of the diverse City of Toronto where all are welcome to participate and belong. Practical implications Implications for senses of place are discussed. Originality/value This paper adds critical depth to understanding increased participation of racialised communities as a mechanism for achieving socio-political change in government and non-government institutions. Initiated in a local context, the findings of this paper are intended to contribute to a global reservoir of critical knowledge on diversity, race, democracy, political participation and power.

Technology Producers use of Language and Discourse to Shape and Reinstate Anti-Black Global Realities: An Analysis of Amazon’s Facial Recognition Technology Communications and Responses to Racial Bias in Rekognition

“…Those who experience and assert racial bias within Rekognition are referred to here, overtly and covertly, as not working in the best interest of society, devise or unwilling to "discuss, update and collaborate on these results" (excerpt 12). This works to further produce those who experience and assert racial bias within FRT and Rekognition application in law enforcement as the racial Other (Almeida, 2019) and Amazon as committed to social good.…”

“…Similarly, in diversity and inclusion discourse, the idea of mentorship of Black professionals from their White counterparts is conceptualized as necessary to address what Shana Almeida (2019) refers to as, their own innate racial lack, rather than structural racial exclusion. Law enforcement agencies and the companies that produce their technology, such as Amazon, are then empowered as necessary well-intentioned beneficial saviours to Black communities, as Black people's racial lack would cause them to return to their natural state of barbaric and uncivilized violence without some kind of state intervention (Almeida, 2019). Amazon's responses in relation to racial bias in Rekognition thus joins a long history of discursive formations that work to maintain existing institutional anti-Black realities and relations of power.…”

Small Town State of Mind: A case study on local government communication and discourses of diversity in rural communities

“…This project grounds itself in sociopolitical theory through existing research on diversity as a discourse and as a mechanism of power on the local governmental level (Mills & Gore, 2016;Almeida, 2016;Almeida, 2019;Vertovec, 2012). This research is reviewed alongside literature that analyses the typology of ethnocultural policy framing, as well as the role of place in constructing moral geographies along the hegemonic urban/rural divide (Poirier, 2004;Jansson, 2013).…”

“…To further the concepts brought forth by the discussed research, this project employs Almeida's (2016;2019) examination of diversity discourse in the City of Toronto. Almeida (2016;2019) drew on Foucault's theories of discourse and power to consider whether the effects of political power justify and reproduce "historical, social, and racial distinctions and exclusions," which leads her to conclude that diversity discourses legitimize racial practices and "re-inscribe race, power, authority and senses of place" (Almeida, 2019, p. 946). Along the same vein is the notion that the "picture" of urban ethnic relations are socially constructed phenomena that unavoidably emerge from vested interests, reflecting the existing social forces and bias within a community (Croucher, 1997).…”

Race and place

“…By critically examining policy documents from 1975 to 2017 concerning various initiatives of collegial deliberations involving “racial Others,” the author discloses “the violence of diversity discourse” that objectify groups and their place in the city. Almeida (2019) concludes by suggesting a reflexive scepticism vis-à-vis the often celebrated involvement of racial others as per se a solution to the problem of racism.…”