Kyle Lydell Canty: 'It's so dangerous to be a black American, I've sought asylum in Canada'

[Newsjock]

Source: The Guardian
By Kyle Lydell Canty

Black people or people of African descent living in the United States should consider seeking asylum in other countries. That’s what I did. On 24 September, I applied for asylum in Canada. We were brought to America as slaves, and the country hasn’t changed its ways at all since then.

Throughout my life, police departments have harassed me and made me fear for my life – this is something many other people of color will have experienced too.

If you’re black in the US you will always have to go through persecution and discrimination at some point in your life. Black Americans are killed in large numbers by the police, regularly denied the same education and access to housing as white Americans and face hurdles when trying to vote. All these forms of discrimination are racist – yet they continue nonetheless.

Applying for asylum has been in the back of my mind for a long time, especially since I started reflecting on my experiences in the United States of America and educating myself on black history.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/11/its-so-dangerous-to-be-a-black-american-ive-sought-asylum-in-canada

[COLGATE4]

1. I hope he's not holding his breath

waiting for Canadian asylum to be granted...

[Blue_Tires]

2. Actually, Canada has let in some very sketchy "persecution" cases

and granted them full asylum, so this guy has a shot even though his case is laughable...

Personally, if I felt persecuted, I'd be going to a place that had MORE people that looked like me instead of less... But that's not my business...

[COLGATE4]

3. You're right. He might just get it.

[TipTok]

4. Well... That was .... hyperbolic...

[Tipperary]

5. Wow.

[virgogal]

6. I guess he believes all of this stuff. I don't

He says Black Americans are killed in large numbers by the police. Large numbers??????

I would like to see the facts on that statement.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

7. He needs help, but not the sort of help

that only emigrating to another country will get him.

We were brought to America as slaves, and the country hasn’t changed its ways at all since then.

Why Canada? If I felt such terror from the US I'd return to England. Maybe he should consider one of the African countries to flee to for his safety and well being.

[jaycrewz]

8. Oh well,

The good ole "why dont you go back to Africa" rhetoric. On DU no less. And yet some people wonder why Black Americans dont necessarily see all "Democrats" as our allies.

[smirkymonkey]

9. Well, I can't really blame him.

I'm not black, but just hearing about how black men (and women) have been treated in this country lately, I think I would be feeling pretty threatened as well.