Final answer:
In 1914, the CEF and broader Canadian society exhibited racial discrimination against various ethnic minorities, including Indigenous, Chinese, South Asian, and Black Canadians, who faced segregation, restrictive policies, and limited opportunities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1914, the Canadian Expeditionary Forces (CEF) and Canadian society at large held racial attitudes that favored white, European descent over other ethnicities. Discrimination was prevalent, affecting various minority groups, including Indigenous Canadians, Chinese Canadians, South Asian Canadians, and Black Canadians.
Indigenous Canadians encountered racial prejudice and were frequently marginalized in society. South Asian Canadians faced restrictive immigration policies, while Chinese Canadians were subjected to institutionalized discrimination such as the Chinese Head Tax.
Black Canadians, notably those who migrated as refugees from the United States, often faced segregation and had limited opportunities, restricted to specific professions and facing various societal barriers. These racial barriers were evident both in civilian life and within military ranks during World War I.
The war itself illuminated these prejudices, with non-white soldiers often being grouped together or relegated to labor or service roles. Nonetheless, wartime service by minority soldiers was an opportunity for them and their communities to demonstrate loyalty and valor, in hopes of improving their status and rights post-war.