Walking While Black And Gay in Toronto Canada

Tonight at 11:00pm I decided to go out to Toronto. Now I wish I had stayed home. Since I don't drive and since Brampton Transit is notoriously unreliable I left ten minutes early. I walk to the bus stop for the 18 South to Bramalea City Centre. I see a police car in front of a house on Laselles street. I walk to the bus stop. I wait for the bus standing on the sidewalk. Out of the blue the police car zooms up towards me.

"Hey you I want to speak to you!''screams the young white male police officer.

"Yes." I reply as I walk up to the squad car.

"You look suspicious.'' The white cop barks. I was stunned. I looked suspicious how? Because I am a young black male waiting for a bus on the sidewalk. Because I don't have blonde hair and blue eyes and I am not a rich white boy.Because I am black and I dare to live.The police officer didn't know by looking at me that I am a gay black man. This just goes to show that for all those blacks that think black gays forget their roots I know who I am. The police officer identified me by phenotype and discerned that I must be trouble since I am a young black man. The police officer didn't see a black gay man he just saw a young tall 6 foot tall 210 pound black man. Americans talk a lot about how Canada is such a tolerant nation but the fact is in Canada there is a quiet racism. According to statistics Canada 47% of black women live in poverty. Black Canadians make 15% less than whites with the same level of education., blacks make $19,000 which is less than the $25,000 national Canadian average.

"I am waiting for the bus." I reply. Now I am very angry because I am minding my own business standing on the sidewalk close to the bus stop. It is a cold evening and I decided to put my hood on my head since I am bald.

"I want to see some identification." The white police officer screams again. Now I am really pissed because I can tell that the police officer is violating my human rights. I am not a dog I am a human being. The reason the white male police officer feels he can talk to me as though I am a criminal or a child is because I am a young black male.

"My house is just around the street I reply and here is your identification." I snapped.I pass my driver's license over to the police officer while he grabbed the card rudely out of my hands and starts to punch some number into his computer. Now I see the bus turning the corner on Williams Parkway to Dixie.

"Now you're going to make me miss my bus!" I yell. I was extremely irritated. I had now learned that I violated a social rule of Brampton. Apparently I didn't know that as a twenty something black male that I am not supposed to leave my house at 11:00 pm or else I will guarantee I will be harassed by a white police officer.

"Well you look suspicious standing by the bushes." The white cop retorted. I just wanted to laugh because I was standing on the sidewalk.

"Can I have my license back." I reply.

"Here." The young white cop replied coldly.

"What is your name and badge number I am going to file a complaint that you harassed me." I reply.

"I'm not telling you my name my badge number is 2715." The racist white cop snapped.

"Say your badge number again." I reply grabbing a blue pen from my pocket.,I made sure I scrawled down the number of the badge 2715. Next the white police officer drive off in a hurry. I wish I had my glasses on so I could of written down his license number. I am so angry I can scream. I now experienced basically what many young men of colour encounter when we face young white male police officers. These young white cops are in a brotherhood which is the police force, The police force is basically a wall of patriarchy and supremacy. I say supremacy because I know that my complaint will go absolutely no where. What is very interesting about this experience was that I was all alone. I was in my own neighborhood but this young white cop felt that because he is a white male and a police officer he is superior to me because I am black, Canada talks a lot of ludicrous and perfidious nonsense about "diversity" and multiculturalism. The fact remains that white supremacy is at the core of Canadian society. The Peel Police force have a public relations exercise that basically states the public can file complaints against a cop. I know very well that the police officer badge number 2715 will not face any justice. I can just see the racist Peel police force laughing privately of course. Because that's how these white racists operate they don't come out and say "hey I'm a bigot." The bigotry is in the silence. Silence speaks volumes.



The young white cop obviously has misconceptions and perceptions about young black men. Canadian society is essentially racist and Egocentric. Black men we are socially constructed as criminals and predators due to white racism. The tone and language of the police officer also is a signifier of his obvious lack of respect and regard for young black men. I don't care if he is a police officer he treated me as though I was not a human being but an animal. The Peel Police just like other police forces in Canada clearly need to get their so called sensitivity training in order. I was considering filing.

I did catch my bus and I did get to Toronto to have some fun downtown. I never knew that leaving my house I would get the third degree. Now I know to watch out for racist white male police officers.


Orville Douglas is the author of "You Don't Know Me" published by TSAR Publications which is his first collection of poetry published by TSAR Publications. You Don't Know Me will be available in May 2005 in America on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, overstock.com, and then in American bookstores.