For much of its history, Canada has been seen as a cultural mosaic of people, at least compared to the "melting pot" of our neighbour to the south. This can be attributed to our broad immigration policies, and the overall acceptance of multiculturalism within Canada. The result has been extreme ethnic diversity and high volumes of immigrants being received from almost every country on an annual basis. The cultural mosaic has given rise to interracial marriages, and consequently more children of mixed races.
Here are some statistics, based on the population in the Toronto area:
- In 2006, 7.1% of GTA marriages were interracial.
- The number of immigrants is only expected to rise, and it is estimated that in less than 20 years from now, 63% of Torontonians will belong to racialized minorities, that is anyone who is not white.
- More than half of second-generation visible minority immigrants and 69% of third generation visible minority immigrants who are married have partners outside their race.
Evidently, there are many implications that go along with an increase in racial mixing.
Throughout history, interracial marriages have been considered a sin, a crime, a disease, or simply socially condemned. Even today, some of these negative connotations and stereotypes associated with certain races still exist, and individuals of mixed race frequently suffer emotional or mental problems, and inner turmoil over identity. However, being of mixed race can also have its advantages. One can choose to self-identify as one race that may be more convenient given a particular situation, and some people regard those of mixed races to be culturally superior.
It seems that as people of mixed races become more common, particularly with an increase in global migration, this may soon become the norm, and the definition of race will be questioned.
On one hand, this could begin to blur the lines that define a certain race or people, causing an eventual loss of cultures. But should we be bound to norms of the past or allow natural evolution to continue to shape the world's population?
On the other hand, could this not be a definition of true multiculturalism, a post-racial environment where different cultures can co-exist and where we can no longer be defined by our race?
Multiculturalism and acceptance does not exist everywhere around the world to the same degree that it does in Canada. Does this increase in people of mixed races ease tensions and conflict between races or create them? Could this be a way for Canada to promote cultural diversity and acceptance within other countries?
I believe that we must learn to accept the increasing diversity of people. Returning to the words of Gandhi, for cultures to exist in harmony, there has to be mutual understanding and acceptance between them, which does not come out of a world where each culture lives and operates in isolation of one another.