Racism is more than obvious racially motivated acts such as violence or segregation of ethnoracial groups. It is embedded in the dominant culture and social institutions in a way that is so pervasive that it is often invisible. Racism also affects everyone. It affects the perception of the world of those who knowingly or unknowingly carry around the baggage of racist attitudes or stereotypes which make them prejudge individuals and situations. These perceptions lead to behaviours that validate and propagate racism.
Racism affects the everyday reality of people of colour.
Racism, like sexism, causes pain and humiliation and has far-reaching consequences. It reinforces xenophobia, increasing the obstacles to participation faced by refugees and immigrants. It prevents equality in opportunity and access to asylum, immigration opportunities, education, jobs, housing, health care and social services, and limits participation in decision-making bodies. The CCR recognizes that women of colour face specific additional barriers. As an organization that is dedicated to the rights of refugees in Canada and internationally and to the settlement of refugees and immigrants in Canada, the CCR's membership should reflect Canada's refugee and immigrant communities.