Six Metres of Pavement is the second novel written by Farzana Doctor, local writer, therapist and activist.

The story is about Ismail Boxwala, a South Asian man living in downtown west Toronto, who 20 years ago inadvertently caused the death of his young daughter after leaving her in the backseat of his car in her carseat on a hot summer day.

The reader is taken through his life, both present and past, in compassionate and thoughtful ways. He’s reminded of his monumental mistake every day in the judgmental eyes of some neighbours, as well as in his own community. But his biggest and harshest judgement comes from within. He’s a Muslim, he’s an alcoholic, he enjoys sex, he works at the City of Toronto as a bridge inspector. His life is closed, known, emotionally shut down and joyless.

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I know, I blogged about this a few years ago.

You would think it wouldn’t be that challenging to do this, and I say this as someone who always has cute and generic blank cards around suitable for all occasions (don’t ever forget I’m a Virgo), and also as someone who used to make cute custom-made cartoon/comic cards for my friends/family. Cards with brightly coloured cats and other creatures saying snarky/political/anti-racist things.

So. It’s my sister’s birthday on Sunday, but she’s here in town and having a celebration today, so yesterday I’m out and about and looking for  a card for her.

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From the “Wahoo there’s a study to back up stuff we know already!!” files.

First of all, skin colour isn’t the problem. RACISM is the problem.

The article in the Toronto Star

(Don’t, I beg of you and impore you, read the comments. Just don’t.)

A “colour code” is keeping visible minorities out of good jobs in the Canadian labour market, a new study says.

Um, that colour code (it sounds almost nice doesn’t it, like organizing your files in a Virgo-like manner. Ahem.) is called RACISM!!

Researchers compared earnings of first-generation immigrants of visible minority and Caucasian backgrounds and found that earnings by male newcomers from visible minorities were just 68.7 per cent of those who were white males. Read the rest of this entry »

I Heart Tim Wise!!

This is almost an hour. Take the time, it’s completely worth it.

Tim Wise on YouTube.