Ep103: I Am Canadian Part 2, with Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman

Changing Lenses: Diversify Your Perspectives

“Research actually demonstrates that the two most targeted groups or communities in Canada that face discrimination are Muslims and Indigenous people. Polls in the United States have found that…even communities of colour, including Black people and Latino people…have negative views of Muslims or have Islamophobia.”
Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman, a psychologist specializing in diversity and inclusion, shares more about his personal experiences with religious discrimination, and his ideas for real allyship and change. We also chat about a surprising difference between Americans and Canadians; Colourism (even among People of Colour); and how we can be more relatable and likeable.

You’ll hear about:

• [00:04:14] Religious discrimination and stat holidays
• [00:11:25] The “I don’t celebrate Christmas” experiment
• [00:18:17] U.S. versus Canada
• [00:23:45] Colourism and wanting to be White
• [00:27:22] How to be a good ally (and a more likeable human being)
• [00:34:39] How White people exotify People of Colour (and their lunches!)

And...I (awkwardly) try to pronounce Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman’s name correctly. Thanks for your graciousness, Rehman!
Full transcript available here.

Guest Bio and References/Links

Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman is a consulting and clinical psychologist and public speaker, with a special focus on diversity and inclusion. He combines his significant clinical skills with his lived experience as both a person of color and an immigrant, to help people better understand microaggressions, privilege, representation, and culture.

Dr. Abdulrehman has consulted with such organizations as the CBC, the Mastercard Foundation, and the RCMP, and was a speaker at the Winnipeg TedX Talks. He currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he runs a psychology clinic, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba, and is a visiting professor at two universities in Tanzania.

Dr. Abdulrehman is also a subject matter expert on unconscious bias for Google and YouTube. And if all that wasn’t enough, in his “spare time” he co-hosts a podcast about diversity and inclusion called Different People.
References:

Find Dr. Abdulrehman on:

Winnipeg TedxTalk on YouTube

Different People Podcast

LinkedIn

clinicpsychology.com

leadwithdiversity.com

winnlove.ca

Music Credits

Intro and Interlude Music:
What Words Can't Describe, by Vlad Gluschenko
License: CC BY 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Outro Music:
Beautiful Modern Rock Pop Guitar All Goodness Background Music, by Royalty Free Music
License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en