In Search of Canadian Political Culture - UBC Press

UBC Press
Race and the City
Chinese Canadian and Chinese American Political Mobilization
Shanti Fernando
Matters of social justice and of diverse cities are
increasingly important, both for scholars of ethnic and
urban studies, and for community groups and policymakers.
Without question, the political participation of
racialized minorities in multicultural cities is a critical
subject, one that Race and the City handles deftly.
– Lloyd Wong, co-editor of Transnational Identities and
Practices in Canada
A fascinating contribution to a dialogue on alternative
forms of political participation by Chinese community
groups in two multicultural North American cities.
Race and the City should be read by students and
scholars of urban politics, race relations, political science,
and ethnic studies, as well as by those community
leaders mobilizing for political change.
– Kim Geron, author of Latino Political Power
September 11, 2001, catapulted North Americans
into a new political dimension in myriad ways, including
increased scrutiny of immigrants and calls for tighter
immigration controls. While such concerns are
certainly not new in Canada or the US, their current
pervasiveness provides a stark backdrop to questions
of the political mobilization of racialized minorities.
Drawing on case studies, interviews, and a detailed
understanding of the racialized legal and sociocultural
histories of both the US and Canada, this important
book argues that while increasing diversity may be
a challenge for systemic inclusiveness, it is one that
must be met if Canada is to uphold its vision of a truly
democratic society.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
1 Introduction: Racing against Time and Place
2 Systemic Racism in Canada
3 Toronto: Political Participation and Chinese Canadian
Community Groups in the Multicultural City
4 Systemic Racism in the United States
5 Los Angeles: Political Mobilization and the Place of Chinese/
Asian American Community Groups in the Multicultural City
6 Conclusion: Racing into the Future
Appendix: Interview Questionnaire
Notes; Bibliography; Index
Shanti Fernando is an assistant professor of
political science at York University.
2006, 192 pages, 6 x 9”
0-7748-1345-8 / 978-0-7748-1345-7
cloth $85.00
0-7748-1346-6 / 978-0-7748-1346-4
paper $29.95 (available July 2007)
www.ubcpress.ca / 1 877 864 8477 23