Racism in Corporate Canada Media: CTV NewsNet anchor Avery Haines insults Blacks on-air in an anti-black diatribe

by S. Pieters, B.A.

It's a good thing the microphone was left on thereby carrying live for all to hear the blatant racist and discriminatory comments of CTV news anchor Avery Haines:

"I kind of like the little stuttering thing. It's like equal opportunity, right?"

"We've got a stuttering newscaster. We've got the black, we've got the Asian, we've got the woman. I could be a lesbian, folk-dancing, black woman stutterer.

"What's that?"

In a wheelchair ... with a gimping, rubber legs. Yeah, really. I'd have a successful career, let me tell you."

Avery Haines comments were made on or about 8:33 a.m. after verbally stumbling while introducing a taped report on aid to farmers.

Avery Haines subsequently apologized for the blatant racist and discriminatory comments about 90 minutes later.

This is cold comfort to those of us who have to live with the evils of anti-black racism in Toronto.

Anti-black racism is prevalent in Ontario. There is abundant and uncontradicted evidence of historical disadvantage and racism faced by designated groups, and in particular, African Canadians and other racialized groups.

Overt, unconscious and systemic racism against African Canadians is particularly virulent and pervasive in Canadian society to such an extent that it has been described judicially as being "part of our community's psyche". African Canadians are among the primary victims of the "evil of racism". Nowhere does this "evil of racism" impact more adversely on African Canadians than in the economic arena, specifically, in the employment setting.

The legacy of this historical disadvantage is the current social, economic, and political marginalization of African Canadians in Canadian society.

Stereotypical views of racial minorities rather than actual skills and performance often influence decisions in hiring and promotion. For racial minorities and in particular, African Canadians, discrimination in employment is both overt and systemic.

Avery Haines racial stereotyping of a black, disabled, lesbian woman, on Saturday January 15, 2000 reflects the overt, systemic and institutionalized anti-black racism which African Canadians have to live with in Canada.

One can only imagine what Marcie Ien (a black female reporter) has to put up with working with the likes of CTV NewsNet anchor Avery Haines - given Haines views of Blacks.

Avery Haines comments are quite distressing because were they not caught on tape she would have denied ever making them.

Her comments represents an anti-black bias in reporting and in its treatment of Blacks and others who are not part of the white "mainstream".

What her comments to the effect "We've got the black, we've got the Asian, we've got the woman. I could be a lesbian, folk-dancing, black woman stutterer" reveal is CTV NewsNet executives, anchors, producers and reporters is predominantly a lily-white news network which shuns the works of black reporters. One can only speculate on what other anti-black comments are made by on-air personalities when the microphone is not recording their comments. Please call in to CTV NewsNet and voice your condemnation of Avery Hains comments and demand that she be removed from the air - as an anchor.

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