Quote:
Originally Posted by taco.vidal
Dustin Byfuglien is black and a Winnipeg Jet. Is his experience different than Kane's?
Oduya?
Ray Neufeld is black and was a Winnipeg Jet in 1980s.
Kane wasn't and isn't the first black guy to play in Winnipeg. I don't remember anyone else getting the public treatment that Kane received. Maybe its the person, not the race?
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Byfuglien is arguably the Jets most popular player. Pokey Reddick was very popular in the 80s. Neufeld is from Winnipeg, and now lives in the Southeast end of the city. Milt Stegall was honored by a street named after him. I cannot recall the last time a member of the Blue Bombers complained about racism in Winnipeg.
The problem is, there is no measuring stick to measure how tolerant/intolerant a city truly is. Different people have different experiences. I admit that there is a big problem between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals, but that is likely due to the huge influx of First Nations people from the reserves in the 80s and 90s, where living conditions are comparable to third world nations.
Today, the Aboriginal population of Winnipeg is well over 10%, which is double what it was 20 years ago. The numbers are not even close in any city in Alberta, including Edmonton. IMHO, it has as much to do with poverty as it does with race. If the community would provide the social services (community centres, treatment centres, affordable housing, etc.) needed to succeed in life for the impoverished areas of the city, then racial tensions would decrease.
Personally, I find Calgary has less overt racism than Winnipeg. The worst place in Canada I've been to is Brooks, AB. That place feels like the Mississippi of Canada.