Two views on the lasting personal and political effects of Trudeau's blackface scandal

A politician saw himself in the PM, while a community activist declared, 'Apology not accepted'

Image | OITO EP 128: See Ya, 2019: Marty Lancaster & El Jones

Caption: L to R: Marty Lancaster outed himself and apologized for dressing up as Mr. T for Halloween a decade ago. El Jones declared "Apology not accepted," after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mea culpa. (Submitted by Marty Lancaster | Sinisa Jolic/CBC)

When news broke during the federal election campaign that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wore blackface and brownface in the past, Marty Lancaster's first thought was, "I've done that."
Out in the Open(external link) host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with the Green Party candidate from Ontario about his decision to out himself and apologize for dressing up as Mr. T for Halloween a decade ago.
Then, Halifax poet, professor and black community activist El Jones explains why she decided to declare, "Apology not accepted," after Trudeau's mea culpa... and what she thinks is being lost when the conversation in the aftermath is acutely focused on the Prime Minister.

This story appears in the Out in the Open episode "See Ya, 2019".