tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19639811.post-1136856524218583762006-01-09T19:52:00.000-05:002006-01-11T21:15:19.603-05:00A letter on discriminationC. Smith, a Kingston graphic designer, illustrator and journalist, recently wrote a letter to the Whig about institutionalized discrimination he faced at a local employer. It's a particularly timely reminder, given the recent apparent racial profiling by the Kingston police, that discrimination is still an issue in our society. We're lucky to live in the most tolerant society this continent has ever seen. But tolerance takes work. And there's still work to do.
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Dear Editor,
Recently, I was reminded of discrimination I thought had died several decades ago when I visited the [...] job fair. I had hopes of finding a new part-time job while I finish my final year at St. Lawrence College.
Upon entering, I was greeted warmly and invited to watch a recruitment video, which would be followed by an application and interview.
I realized, as I watched the seven minute film, that the company had mandatory drug tests, which I had no problem with and thought was a smart move for the company, but they also openly admitted to not hiring persons with visible tattoos.
As the video finished, I came to the conclusion the no visible tattoos rule was a problem for a person such as myself because I have both my arms sleeved [Ed -- covered in tattooos].
I was approached to fill out the application form and proceeded to inform the employee that I have tattoos covering both my arms, but that the tattoos are spiritual and family-related. I also showed him the tattoos, which have all been done professionally and in full colour.
(Included on my arms are a traditional Japanese Coi fish, several flowers in water, a family coat of arms, lobster trap, a Nova Scotian crest with my family's home town, a Poppy with a Remembrance Day motto, a heart made out of water, and a sunset, amongst others.)
At that point, I was no longer a welcome applicant. I was furious, but kept my thoughts to myself as I left the building with my resume firmly in hand. The question that comes to my mind is -- didn't 'negroes need not apply' and 'long-haired hippies need not apply' signs get eradicated? In the year 2006, is it still all right to openly discriminate against a person for their appearance?
This is a prime example of discrimination. Maybe if I were covered in offensive signs, such as Nazi swastikas and other disturbing imagery, or poorly executed tattoos it would be understandable. But I have experience working in several other corporate stores in similar roles, and those stores have hired me without question. I always end up being a valued employee and treat customers with mutual respect.
Why, then, should this store be any different from any other potential employers, and do they have any other prejudices when hiring? What if I'm too old, overweight, black, female, native, etc? This culture needs to wake up and start actually being the open-minded society it claims to be.
Artistic, creative and spiritual people will continue to get tattooed in a traditional fashion, and society needs to catch up to the times. A clean-cut, well-dressed and shaven individual, despite tattoos, is still a clean-cut, well-dressed and shaven individual.
Sincerely,
C. Smith
Kingston
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<b>Update</b> (1/11/06): This post drew a comment from someone who thought I meant to imply that being turned down from a job is the same thing as being arrested for one's race. As I replied in the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=19639811&postID=113685652421858376">comments section,</a> I didn't mean to suggest that being turned down for a job is the same thing as being arrested for one's race. That wasn't my intention at all, and I apologize if you read it that way.
I do think that some folks who aren't people of color feel "Oh, discrimination only happens to other people." And I think this letter's a good reminder that whether it's for your background, your tattoos, your religion, your gender, your education, your socio-economic status, etc, discrimination in some form can touch almost anyone's life.
If empathy and a sense of justice aren't enough to get everyone stirred up about discrimination, then perhaps a reminder of its universality is.Natalkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17904243446473763995noreply@blogger.com