Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau has been in hot water after photos came to light featuring him in blackface and brownface makeup in 2001 when Trudeau worked as a teacher in a private school in British Columbia. In another short video clip Trudeau is seen in blackface makeup mocking black people by facial gestures and stuffing his pants to portray a stereotypical cliche about black men’s genitalia.
Following widespread criticism Trudeau apologized for his racist behaviour and committed to unwavering fight for inclusion and diversity.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the leading advocacy group for Muslims in Canada, issued two statements on the same day regarding Trudeau’s blackface/brownface scandal.
In the first statement NCCM denounced Trudeau’s behaviour and urged him to apologize and in the second statement NCCM accepted Trudeau’s apology.
NCCM’s first statement (September 18, 2019):
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is calling on the Prime Minister to apologize for wearing “brownface”/”blackface” at an Arabian Nights Party in 2001. “Seeing the Prime Minister in brownface/blackface is deeply saddening,” said NCCM’s Executive Director Mustafa Farooq, “The wearing of blackface/brownface is reprehensible, and hearkens back to a history of racism and an Orientalist mythology which is unacceptable. While we recognize that people can change and evolve over two decades, it is critical that the Prime Minister immediately and unequivocally apologizes for his wearing of brownface/blackface.
NCCM’s second statement (September 18, 2019):
We thank the Prime Minister for his apology. Prime Minister Trudeau’s apology came less than an hour after NCCM called on him to apologize for wearing blackface/brownface.