Johnson (2018) speaks about the connection between capitalism and racism. Search through current events and contemporary issues to find an example of how this might connect to adult education. Share a news article, a video, a scholarly article or an image to add your analysis.

A topic that is near and dear to my heart is systemic racism in the RCMP. Considering I am designing a police course, it seems appropriate to comment on this topic and fit it into my culturally responsive teaching.

Johnson (2018) posits that every form of privilege has an economic dimension. In Canada, we have a national police force (RCMP) that enforces laws that allow us to live a pretty safe and comfortable life in most communities. However, Johnson (2018, p. 35) states,” the nature of capitalism as a system profoundly affects how privilege and oppression work.” This capitalistic state in Canada, with an economic and political system in which trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit rather than by the state, has an ugly side. The RCMP is funded and regulated by the Federal Government and is not an independent police force. For example, the prime minister appoints all RCMP Commissioners who are not promoted through the rank system to the commissioner level. This is yet another example of power and privilege in ensuring the person in authority is on the “right” side.

Unfortunately, this toxic culture encourages misogynist, racist and homophobic attitudes. In October 2016, RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson apologized for the RCMP’s “shameful conduct.” An internal investigation determined that up to 20,000 female officers and civilian employees since 1974 may have been the victim of harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and sexual abuse. The RCMP set aside a $125 million compensation fund for victims. Meanwhile, the current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the RCMP Commissioner, Brenda Lucki, confirmed the presence of systemic racism from coast to coast to coast of Canada.

The RCMP, has systemic racism for one simple reason: the capitalist system. Defended by Commissioner Lucki, stating, “systemic racism is part of all institutions.” Really? All institutions? Lucki went on to say, when pressed, said she has heard “about 15 or 20 definitions of systemic racism.” (Tasker, 2020, p. 1). Maybe Commissioner Lucki should brush up on her definitions and decide which one to use before speaking with the CBC and broadcasting it to the rest of Canada.

Is the RCMP a capitalist institution? The RCMP violently suppressed the Wet’suwet’en who were resisting the building of a pipeline. The RCMP refused to defend the Mi’kmaq fishermen from racist Nova Scotia fishers in Nova Scotia. Look at the SNC-Lavalin scandal, the RCMP investigation, and how Canada tilts the law toward protecting capitalists. Is the RCMP merely the armed wing of the Federal Government acting on behalf of capitalists, industrialists, bankers, and oil companies who are polluting our ecosystems and systemically repressing and breaking the resistance of Indigenous peoples?

It would appear the RCMP has serious issues with both capitalism and racism, but Johnson (2018, p. 35) seems to have figured it out by stating, “the nature of capitalism as a system profoundly affects how privilege and oppression work.” Unfortunately, real change will not come from within the RCMP but must be initiated by external sources.

Johnson, A. G. (2018). Privilege, power and difference (3rd ed.). McGraw Hill Inc.

Tasker, J.P. (2020, June 12). Systemic racism exists in the RCMP, Commissioner Brenda Lucki says. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/brenda-lucki-systemic-racism-rcmp-1.5610355

Wood, A. (2021, February 8). Systemic racism in the RCMP. Government of Canada.

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20200930/030/index-en.aspx