Covert racism: the case of Ghanaian immigrant entrepreneurs in three Canadian Prairie Provinces

Abstract

ABSTRACT The manifestation of racism comes in two forms: overt and covert. While overt racism constitutes a blatant expression of discrimination against minorities, covert racism is a subtler form of racial discrimination that is often disguised. Canada’s Constitution and federal policy commitments to multiculturalism have resulted in a general diminution of overt structural forms of racism. Despite these norms, covert racism remains intractable. The impact of covert racism is manifested in various forms on visible minorities including denial of assistance, especially in service institutions. Using in-depth interviews, this paper explores Ghanaian immigrant entrepreneurs’ encounters with covert racism in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. The study finds that subtle racial discrimination through racial profiling and colourblind racism has negatively affected their business operations such as loss of clients. The paper concludes that even though overt racism has become unacceptable in Canada, covert racism continues to undermine economic success and growth for immigrant entrepreneurs.