Had a few incidents growing up in Calgary.
-One time a guy through my resume out right away saying he's never hire someone with an Indian name. My white friend was already working there and this happened in front of him right after I walked out; he quit the next day.
-Driving into a Superstore parking lot once, when a women was yelling at a couple muslim women about something. As I parked, she randomly turned her aggression to me screaming at me to stop treating her country like a doormat and go back where I came from (which is Calgary, so that's difficult).
Told her to F off and walked into the store. When I came out, she had vandalized my car and broke my windshield wipers.
-When we were selling our house once, some neighbours taped up a sign on our for sale sign saying "go home pakis". That was a kid though, so just a dumb child with dumb parents. Not sure how much animosity I can hold against a 12 year old.
-The old always getting turned away from bars was a known race issue in Calgary when I was 18-22 as well.
The thing with all of these though, is we're talking about 2-3 stupid people in 23 years growing up in the city during the 80's & 90's. The crazy lady at Superstore very likely had mental health problems now that I look back on it.
While I think it's important to acknowledge that these things do still happen, nothing has ever prevented me from have a successful life, making great relationships with all kinds of people and getting ahead in this world.
I'm sure for minorities growing up now, things are even better as Calgary has grown and diversified further.
When I see the issues facing natives in our country and blacks/hispanics/muslims in the US, I'm in no position to play victim. Would rather people focus on those serious systemic problems than join in to be part of a pity party.
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