Race Issues 2: COVID-19 edition
Stories of everyday racism experienced in Canada during COVID-19
The reality of inequities endured by racialized peoples across Canada have become even more glaring in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian health researcher Dr. Upton Allen found that structural inequities in healthcare, labour, and community affluence have shaped the disproportionate harms of COVID-19 in Black communities. These inequities are both interconnected with and underpinned by systems of racial, gender, and class marginalization.
The COVID-19 pandemic provides a valuable learning opportunity — as Canada relies on foundationally racist systems to address the social challenges arising from COVID-19, we must identify and address the harms these systems have perpetuated on racialized Canadians. Race Issues 2: COVID-19 Edition is a collection of real life experiences, in comic form, from racialized peoples living across Canada. Each comic represents a real story that was submitted between June 2020-June 2021. The artwork in this book is created by Summer Taylor, Jazz Groden-Gilchrist, Lily Huang, Sam Anis, and curation and poetry by Iman Bukhari.
We hope these stories provide a Canadian context for policymakers, advocates and the public so we can begin resolving the harms caused by intersecting oppressions during COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic provides a valuable learning opportunity — as Canada relies on foundationally racist systems to address the social challenges arising from COVID-19, we must identify and address the harms these systems have perpetuated on racialized Canadians. Race Issues 2: COVID-19 Edition is a collection of real life experiences, in comic form, from racialized peoples living across Canada. Each comic represents a real story that was submitted between June 2020-June 2021. The artwork in this book is created by Summer Taylor, Jazz Groden-Gilchrist, Lily Huang, Sam Anis, and curation and poetry by Iman Bukhari.
We hope these stories provide a Canadian context for policymakers, advocates and the public so we can begin resolving the harms caused by intersecting oppressions during COVID-19.
Watch the video of the live book launch!
Learn about the Artists
Jazz Groden-Gilchrist Jazz grew up as an adopted kid and the only black person in his family and while identity was always a struggle, storytelling was a safe method of exploring it. He enjoys creating comics with diverse fantasy settings that explore identity, complex familial relations, and responsibility. |
Lily Huang Lily is a first-generation Chinese-Canadian visual artist and illustrator. Her artistic practice references the history of heritage in technique and materials. Through her artworks, she aims to communicate the intricacies of connection, of people and the world we inhabit, and represents the empowerment and celebration of personhood. |