A new article by Karine Coen-Sanchez,PhD in Sociological and Anthropological Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, has been published on The Conversation Canada. Titled “Polite racism is the subtle form of racial exclusion — here’s how to move beyond it”, the piece sheds light on the persistent, understated forms of racial exclusion that continue to shape Canadian institutions beneath a veneer of civility.
The author examines how “polite racism” — behaviours and attitudes that appear friendly, neutral, or well-intentioned on the surface — nonetheless reinforce structural inequality, particularly for Black and racialized communities. Drawing on a qualitative study conducted with first- and second-generation Haitian and Jamaican Canadians in Ottawa and Gatineau, Coen-Sanchez highlights several recurring patterns:
research projects dismissed as “advocacy rather than scholarship”;
accents scrutinized while expertise is overlooked;
racialized employees invited to represent “diversity” without being offered meaningful leadership roles.
The article connects these experiences to broader social and psychological mechanisms that make such exclusion appear normal—even polite. Building on the work of W.E.B. Du Bois and Canadian Black studies scholar Rinaldo Walcott, Coen-Sanchez introduces the concept of “duplicity of consciousness”: the tension felt by racialized people who seek belonging while navigating spaces where inclusion remains conditional.
Beyond documenting these patterns, the article proposes five key priorities to help dismantle polite racism within Canadian institutions:
Strengthening awareness and reducing fear through training that addresses microaggressions and aversive racism;
Reforming policies and hiring practices to dismantle embedded inequities;
Ensuring inclusive representation in curricula and public narratives;
Improving transparency and accountability around equity, diversity, and inclusion outcomes;
Expanding mental health supports tailored to the stress caused by subtle and persistent discrimination.
According to Coen-Sanchez, moving beyond polite racism requires courage over comfort. Genuine inclusion demands honest conversations about inequity and an institutional willingness to recognize and value the full contributions of all members of Canadian society.