A Dance Against Hate: Shikha's Viral Response to Racism in Canada
Online Comments Made by an Indian Woman living in Canada Spark Controversy, Splitting Public Opinion
In a heartening display of resilience, an Indian woman named Shikha, living near Toronto, has gone viral on social media after sharing a video of herself dancing confidently in response to racist and offensive comments she has received from white people online.
The video, which has garnered widespread support, shows Shikha dancing unfazed by criticism and negativity. She captioned the clip, expressing surprise that the same people making hurtful comments online are sweet to her face in real life.
The Online Onslaught
Shikha has faced a torrent of hateful comments, including "Get a Deodorant First," "Go back, we don't need you," "Go to Tim Hortons, you will feel at home," "You find a food bank to eat at," "You guys stink," "Pajeets," "Go back to your own country. Why move where everybody hates you," "Crush Cockroach gifs," "Most important is to go the f*ck back home," and "Deport these freeloading creatures."
A Nation of Support
Despite these offensive remarks, many Canadians have expressed their support for Shikha, with one user asserting that Canada does not belong to those making racist comments. Another commented, encouraging Shikha to continue her activities and enjoy the country.
Multicultural Canada
Canada is often celebrated for its multiculturalism, with one user stating that real-life encounters in the country have been surprisingly sweet. A user claimed that open discrimination and speaking down to is rare in Canada due to its multicultural and cosmopolitan nature.
However, Shikha's experience highlights the persistence of racism, with incidents of racial harassment reported by some Indian immigrants. The woman living near Toronto mentioned instances of double-checking her ID at concerts and feeling unwelcome at upscale restaurants.
Anti-Racism Initiatives
Organizations like the Canadian Race Relations Foundation are working on anti-racism initiatives to address these issues and promote understanding. Despite the challenges, the strong narrative of multiculturalism and support within the broader Canadian community offers a glimmer of hope in the face of hate speech and discrimination.
[1] Canadian Race Relations Foundation. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.crrf-fcrr.ca/about-us/
[2] Canadian Anti-Hate Network. (2023). Great Replacement Theory. Retrieved from https://www.antihate.ca/great-replacement-theory/
[3] CBC News. (2023, March 10). Indian couple in Peterborough says they were attacked in a hate crime. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/peterborough-hate-crime-1.6410374
[4] Global News. (2023, April 15). Indian woman in Canada shares video of racist comments she receives online. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8823138/indian-woman-shikha-racist-comments-video-tiktok/
[5] Toronto Star. (2023, April 17). Indian woman's video of racist comments she receives online goes viral, sparks support. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2023/04/17/indian-womans-video-of-racist-comments-she-receives-online-goes-viral-sparks-support.html
In the face of a barrage of hateful comments on social media, Shikha's viral dance video serves as a beacon of resilience, gaining widespread support as a form of entertainment that echoes her defiant spirit. As an emblem of multicultural Canada, the video offers a counterpoint to the online onslaught of prejudice, inspiring Canadians to reaffirm their commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
