The Skin We're In Quotes

“This idea that Canada's racial injustices are not as bad as they could be, this notion of Slavery Lite, of Racism Lite, of what my friend calls the "toy version of racism" is a very Canadian way of saying: remember what we could do to you if we wanted to. Passive-aggressive racism is central to Canada's national mythology and identity.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“White supremacy encourages the people it benefits to create their own parallel universe, their own set of facts and explanations about the existence of and prevalence of racism. Even as white people insist that "no one really knows what happened", they can immediately share an explanation that eases their anxiety and shame.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“We demand justice and we get process.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy—white settlers deny Black communities the necessities of life, then blame us for the social dysfunction that follows.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“Canada is not like America. Why are you bringing American problems to Canada? Why are you crossing borders? But that’s the thing... Black lives have no borders. We exist everywhere, regardless of the fact they may not want us to.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“The false promise of objectivity in journalism reinforces white supremacy.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“White power works in concert with other forms of power—including capitalism (the dominance of private profit over public benefit); ableism (the dominance of people deemed able-bodied); cisnormativity (the dominance of people who fit a strict male–female gender binary); patriarchy (the dominance of men); and heteronormativity (the dominance of people who, based on the gender binary, only accept heterosexuality as normal)—to create what feminist scholar and author bell hooks describes as “dominator culture.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“Whiteness is constantly defined and reproduced through anti-blackness.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“We need to cultivate listening, partnership, and solidarity to carve out a better collective future.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“White supremacy keeps stepping on your toes while insisting it was an accident.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power

“White supremacy is never personal. Never individual. Never isolated.”
― Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power