Fergus’ snub shows that for Black faces, the work is never enough

Not only has he been a loyal soldier to the Liberal Party in their darkest moments that threatened their victory in the 2019 federal election, but he has also brought the Black community into a political space that forcefully kept us out.

Liberal Greg Fergus works hard, keeps his head down and delivers without complaint—and for many racialized Canadians, we are told that this is the way to success. Fergus’ exclusion from cabinet, however, tells a different story: it doesn’t matter how hard you work or consistently you deliver, as Black labour, your contributions will never be valued, writes Erica Ifill. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Opinion

BY ERICA IFILL

October 27, 2021

OTTAWA—Imagine being in the Liberal Party and thinking you’re absolved of white supremacy because you have a Black friend (or you adopted an Indigenous child, *cough* Chrétien). That Black friend is Greg Fergus, and like every model minority, he’s made no waves, kept his head down, and has do...

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