Sunera Thobani

Sunera Thobani (born 1957) is a Tanzanian-Canadian feminist sociologist, academic, and activist.

Her research interests include critical race theory, postcolonial feminism, anti-imperialism, Islamophobia, Indigeneity, and the War on Terror.

She is currently an associate professor at the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia.

Thobani is also a founding member of Researchers and Academics of Colour for Equality/Equity (R.A.C.E.), the former president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC), and the director for the Centre for Race, Autobiography, Gender, and Age (RAGA).

Thobani was born in 1957 in Tanzania to parents of South Asian descent.

Since the 1980s, she has been associated with the anti-racist movement, anti-apartheid movement, third world solidarity movements, and various women's movements.

As an undergraduate student living in the United Kingdom, she worked with different South Asian women's organizations.

Thobani also spent a year volunteering in Palestine.

Furthermore, as a graduate student in the United States, she was involved in anti-nuclear, peace, and Palestinian solidarity movements.

After spending her childhood in East Africa, she attended Middlesex University in England, completing her bachelor's degree in 1986.

In 1989, Thobani received a master's degree from University of Colorado in the United States.

After arriving in Vancouver in 1989 as a doctoral candidate, she quickly became affiliated with the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC)—then the largest feminist organization in Canada.

At the same time, she continued to work closely with women of color activists in Ontario and Quebec.

However, Thobani quickly gained national prominence after the Women of Color caucus within NAC nominated her for a presidential run.

In 1993, Thobani was elected as the 12th President of NAC—the first woman of color in the organization's history.

Securing the blessing of her predecessor—socialist feminist Judy Rebick—Thobani focused on making the organization a more inclusive space for women of color.

Her 1993 appointment to the office of NAC president outraged some Canadians.

Notably, on 23 April 1993, Tory MP John Alexander Frances MacDougall (Timiskaming) questioned Thobani's citizenship status in the House of Commons of Canada—referring to her as an "illegal immigrant."

His comments sparked outrage.

Acting NAC President, Judy Rebick, labelled MacDougall's line of questioning "irresponsible and reprehensible," as well as "sexist and racist."

However, MacDougall's concerns did resonate with some Canadians.

For instance, some white Canadian women viewed Thobani's NAC appointment as divisive.

One particular woman—identifying herself as a fifth-generation white Canadian—wrote to the Toronto Star in order to express her doubts about Thobani's ability to represent "women whose forebears built this country."

Thobani, herself, responded to MacDougall's speech—ultimately perceiving it as "an attack on all immigrants—that our presence is not valued here."

From 1996 to 2000, Thobani taught women's studies at Simon Fraser University.

During her stay at Simon Fraser, she also served as the Ruth Wynn Woodward Endowed Professor and Chair.

Thobani has also previously lectured at Evergreen State College, a liberal arts college in Olympia, Washington.

She served as president for three years; and in 1996, she was succeeded by another woman of color, Joan Grant-Cummings.

Deciding to further her education in Canada, Thobani later went on to earn a PhD in sociology from Simon Fraser University in 1998.

Since 2000, she has been teaching at the University of British Columbia.

She is currently an associate professor at the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice.

Thobani was an avid activist throughout her undergraduate and graduate career.

On 1 October 2001, Thobani gave a speech at the "Women's Resistance: From Victimization to Criminalization" conference concerning the September 11 attacks.

This speech—which rejected an ahistorical framing of the recent attacks—launched a firestorm of controversy.

From 2008 to 2012, Thobani became the Director for the Centre for Race, Autobiography, Gender, and Age (RAGA).

Working collaboratively with other community organizations for equity and social justice, RAGA focuses on the importance autobiography and oral histories.

Alongside feminists Sherene Razack and Yasmin Jiwani, Thobani also co-founded Researchers and Academics of Colour for Equality/Equity (R.A.C.E.).

It is a collaborative coalition of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Non-status Indians, people of color, and white allies who are engaged in the production of critical academic and activist knowledges.

R.A.C.E. is a non-profit committed to anti-racist, anti-colonial, and feminist scholarship and praxis.

Thobani's academic and activist work has garnered both support and backlash.