[Julia]

I imagine there are many reasons as to why anti-Black racism persists in Ontario. But I believe lack of education and inaction towards dismantling white supremacy are some contributors. I had no idea slavery existed in Canada until I was in university, which is appalling. University was where I learned more about systems of oppression and how to reflect on my social location and privilege. But not everyone has access to post-secondary education. Even so, these conversations should be introduced at a young age in school and at home, and continued throughout our education. Our education system has failed us in many ways. I also think many folks are fearful of what it might mean if they were to reflect and acknowledge how they are perpetuating anti-Black racism and benefiting from white supremacy. But we need to take accountability, challenge these systems, and be open and willing to change.

[Preeti]

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I feel we all have to do so much learning and unlearning to be actually able to make a difference in the real world. I agree that people try to acknowledge ABR but fail to acknowledge and leave the white supremacy and previlege they enjoy.

[mogbeyi]

Anti-Black racism persists in Ontario due to a complex interplay of historical, social, economic, and institutional factors. The colonial legacy and the history of slavery have entrenched systemic inequalities that continue to marginalize Black communities. Discriminatory policies and laws have historically disadvantaged Black people, leading to ongoing socio-economic disparities. In education, Black students often face biased curriculums and unequal resources, resulting in lower academic achievements and higher dropout rates. In the workforce, Black individuals frequently encounter discrimination in hiring practices and workplace environments, leading to higher unemployment rates, underemployment, and wage gaps. Additionally, the criminal justice system disproportionately targets and penalizes Black people, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalization.

In my view, addressing anti-Black racism in Ontario requires a multifaceted approach that includes revisiting and reforming institutional practices, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities, and fostering a societal shift towards genuine inclusion and equality. It’s not enough to acknowledge the problem; concerted and sustained efforts must be made to dismantle these deep-rooted barriers and create a society where everyone can thrive without fear of discrimination. This requires more than performative anti-racism projects or initiatives; it demands actual action from stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, employers, and community leaders, to enact meaningful and lasting change.

[Andrea]

Anti-Black racism persists in Ontario for a variety of complex reasons, many of which stem from historical, social, economic, and systemic factors. Here are some key factors contributing to the ongoing issue:

1. Historical Legacy: Ontario, like many parts of the world, has a history of slavery, segregation, and discrimination against Black people. Even though slavery was abolished in Canada in the 19th century, its legacy persists in social attitudes, institutional structures, and systemic inequalities.

2. Structural Racism: Institutions and systems in Ontario, such as education, healthcare, employment, and criminal justice, have embedded racial biases that disadvantage Black communities. For example, racial profiling by law enforcement, discriminatory hiring practices, and disparities in access to quality education and healthcare all contribute to perpetuating anti-Black racism.

3. Implicit Bias: Many individuals hold unconscious biases or stereotypes about Black people, which can influence their attitudes, behaviors, and decision-making processes. These biases may manifest in everyday interactions, employment opportunities, housing, and other aspects of life, reinforcing systemic inequalities

Addressing anti-Black racism in Ontario requires a multifaceted approach that tackles both systemic issues and individual attitudes. It involves policy reforms, community engagement, education, allyship, and ongoing efforts to challenge biases and dismantle discriminatory structures.

[mogbeyi]

I believe anti-Black racism persists in Ontario due to systemic and institutional biases that subtly underpin our society—often colloquially described as “racism with a smile.” This term captures how ingrained prejudices, though less overt, profoundly affect critical areas such as education, employment, and law enforcement, continuing to disadvantage Black communities significantly. Despite increased awareness and policies aimed at equity, the deeper societal acknowledgment and structural changes necessary are slow to materialize. Addressing this issue effectively requires not only policy reform but also a cultural shift toward real inclusivity, where barriers to full participation for Black individuals are actively dismantled.

[April]

I believe anti-black racism is still a problem in Canada due to its deep-rooted history of slavery. The marginalization and enslavement of black people were hardly mentioned. I learnt a lot at the beginning of this course about the hardships blacks had to endure. The book mentioned ” Blacks at the Border” speaks about this. Stereotyping on blacks continues to be an issue today. Facing barriers in receiving education, employment inequity and suffering with health issues are all results of anti-black racism. The Underground Railroad depicts the life story of those slaves escaping for freedom throughout North America.

[Aija]

I truly value and love all the previous responses in this thread! I believe anti-black racism (ABR) still exists in Canada for multiple reasons, however one of the most impactful reasons that strikes me is that there is a lack of willingness to acknowledge the ways ABR is systemic in it’s roots and the ways it is continually perpetuated. As we learned and should now know, ABR is so deeply embedded into almost every facet of our institutions starting from the top down. I truly believe that in order to combat ABR we have to look at it from a system focus, and doing that would require us to dismantle and rebuild a lot of these systems which are meant to elevate whiteness thus degrading blackness. Education is important, shifting thinking and mindsets are important and are amazing steps in terms of building awareness and recognition, but the hard truth is that these things alone will never eliminate ABR from our society when there are literal societal structures that through there inherent operation will continue to perpetuate anti-blackness. Our justice / youth justice systems, social assistance systems, educational systems, health systems, and more are anti-black at their core- they are not made to advance and/or be in the best interest of blackness. And so while we can do things like shift organizational/systemic thinking and promote education, at the end of the day as long as these systems continue to operate with the same goals and intended purposes, ABR will continue to be perpetuated. It’s time for a wake up call that truly we have to dismantle our systems piece by piece in order to rebuild. Instead of “fighting the power” maybe it’s time to “recircuit the power” instead?

[Rose]

Thank you for your addition to the discussion, Aija. Greatly appreciated your thoughtful response. Another fundamental component to add, in thinking about Dr. Shah’s important lecture, is how white supremacy and whiteness operate, maintain, and intensify anti-Black racism. -RS

[Selena]

I think part of it has to do with the people of Ontario’s (and probably a majority of Canada) lack of knowledge in Canada’s history regarding black lives. The lecture on Canada’s history when it comes to slavery, racism, etc., was very informative and a lot of the information was new to me! I think this type of history (along with our history regarding Indigenous peoples), goes against what Canada now ‘stands for’ and to look back at the not so nice parts of our history would contradict today’s image that we portray. This area of Canada’s history should be taught in schools, people should be aware of what we were complicit in and what we did. It’s important for people to see the growth from how dishonorable people were to black people to where we are now (which is better, but still nowhere near perfect in terms of racism, discrimination, etc.). Alongside, I think that those who are privileged and in power assume that their allyship through a screen is enough. I by no means am saying that retweets, likes, shares, posts, etc., are not important and do not work (they do), but for those in positions of power, they need to do more. They need to actively advocate and not be passive.

[Selena]

I think part of it has to do with the people of Ontario’s (and probably a majority of Canada) lack of knowledge in Canada’s history regarding black lives. The lecture on Canada’s history when it comes to slavery, racism, etc., was very informative and a lot of the information was new to me! I think this type of history (along with our history regarding Indigenous peoples), goes against what Canada now ‘stands for’ and to look back at the not so nice parts of our history would contradict today’s image that we portray. This area of Canada’s history should be taught in schools, people should be aware of what we were complicit in and what we did. It’s important for people to see the growth from how dishonorable people were to black people to where we are now (which is better, but still nowhere near perfect in terms of racism, discrimination, etc.). Alongside, I think that those who are privileged and in power assume that their allyship through a screen is enough. I by no means am saying that retweets, likes, shares, posts, etc., are not important and do not work (they do), but for those in positions of power, they need to do more. They need to actively advocate and not be passive.

[Helena]

A key part of the persistence of Anti-Black Racism in Ontario is as discussed within the lectures; passive quietness disguised by politeness. Voices in the United States are active, loud, and seen; though, voices in Canada tend to keep issues quiet and silenced, band-aided by promises of change and false directive. Furthermore, I fear too many in positions of privilege believe that ally-ship follows the same path of passivity and silent soldiering rather than active advocacy. Strength in voices seeks representation, requires education, perpetuates change rather than seeking it through hashtags, likes, retweets and online stories; while we are encouraging story-sharing, we are not fighting for it, we are hiding behind screens and unwilling to stand.

[James]

Anti-black racism persists in Canada for many different reasons, which are rooted in the history of slavery, discrimination and colonization, and continue to this day. Many Canadians are not even aware of these historical roots in racism, as it was not included (or minimized) in the school education system and largely ignored or erased in other aspects of society. I see this daily in my work within the healthcare system where black folks continue to have limited access to quality care and experience microaggressions from care staff. These are not just facts, they have real outcomes that impact peoples health and ultimately their lives. This issue is seen at a systemic / organizational level, as well as interpersonal interactions within the care system. Although some organizations are starting to implement anti-racism and anti-black racism policies, these are yet to be seen as anything other than performative or “checking the box” as other people have mentioned in this thread. More work needs to be done to address this in a meaningful way.

[France]

It’s so frustrating; my sense is that cognitive dissonance continues to be such a big and real problem – ppl just can’t get over the feeling of shame and can’t see the role they could take if the concepts were simply accepted to be real, poignant to them even if they aren’t black identifying. Dismantling won’t happen if only a small portion of the population gets it…

[Rosemary]

I think anti-black racism is still a problem in Ontario maybe because of a lack of knowledge of the history Canada played and the impact it had on black lives. I think Canada has a persona of being polite and treating people well but Canada’s history would suggest otherwise. I found the lecture about the history of Canada to be very powerful and I think there would be value in teaching Canada’s history in schools. I think when one has a reputation to uphold it becomes easy to say it doesn’t happen in our backyard, or we (Canadian’s) are not like the States. In some ways we may be worse than the States because here it may be more underground because people are being polite and that may be way more of a challenge to change.

[Katie]

I think the reason why anti-Black racism is still very present in Ontario is multi-faceted. Anti-Black racism is rooted in historical, institutional, societal and systemic contexts that have, overall, done a very good job of hiding their existence. One of the most shocking realizations that I had during the first module was how little I actually knew about the historical roots of anti-Black racism in Canada in particular. I was stunned to learn that what I had thought I knew about our country (and I have studied a bit of Canadian history at an undergraduate level) was completely off. When I shared what I learned with my family, they were equally as shocked. This highlights a very real obstacle toward stopping anti-Black racism in Ontario: not enough people are aware or educated about it. This, of course, is due to the erasure of Black voice and perspective in our institutions. This should be something that is taught as part of our curriculum. We (I am speaking as a white person), need to be more aware of the little actions we take and thought processes that we have that perpetuate the problem. We need to acknowledge our guilt. We cannot move forward if not everyone understands that something is wrong.

[Joshua]

I believe that one reason anti-black racism remains an issue in Ontario is due to historical factors that continue to open doors for certain groups to benefit socially, academically, and economically on the backs of non whites. Individuals who are not directly impacted by the damage of anti- black racism often experience a greater likelihood of benefiting from economic, educational, and social privileges made available through the societal barriers enforced on black individuals. In order for change to take place, we must be willing to recognize, acknowledge, and hold accountable unequitable practices. This work is tremendously important, for all of us.

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on him not understanding it.” Upton Sinclair

[Samantha]

There are a variety of complex historical, systematic and social factors that contribute to anti-Black racism still being present in Ontario. The history of colonization and segregation have played a big role in the continual discrimination that is faced and is still present in everyday attitudes and structures. This can be seen through systematic bias or unequal access to education, healthcare and employment.

[Kayleigh]

Anti-Black racism remains a problem in Ontario not just because the institutions that all people move through are, on a fundamental basis, anti-Black, but also, because many narratives and institutions go out of their way to hide their racism. This means that while institutions are committing very real harm against Black people, there is a simultaneous move being made to hide that this is happening. In the second lecture, “This Historical Roots of Anti-Black Racism in Canada,” Dr. Michele Antoinette Johnson pointed out that the historical presence of Black people has been erased from Canadian history, as both key historical figures such as Mathieu Da Costa, or the institution of slavery in Upper Canada and New France. These specific erasures are important to note because the former makes it seem as if Black people were not in Canada, and the latter makes it appear that Canada never participated in the institution of slavery. These erasures mean that many Canadians do not believe that anti-Black racism exists in Canada, and can’t connect certain educational outcomes for Black youth, such as the disproportionate numbers of Black youth being disciplined in schools (according to Dr. Vidya Shah, Black students represent 11% of students in the TDSB but account for 34.3 % of suspensions and expulsions in 2017-18). Because Canadians don’t know about these connections, when they see figures such as the above, they may resist or deny that anti-Black racism is negatively impacting Black students and may instead blame and punish these students for behaving like their white peers.

[Rachel]

Anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario as well as Canada for a variety of reasons including the historical context in which Black people existed in Canada, the lack of black voices in large political and influential systems, socioeconomic disparities, the silence and compliance of anti-black racism at the hands of white privilege and it’s privilege holders, and implicit biases. Courses and education on anti-black racism such as courses like these are crucial in addressing and holding those in power accountable for the way in which the systems they have created and stand by have never worked in the favour of black people. Listening to black voices and creating change would be the bare minimum in creating change toward the eradication of anti-black racism and systems in Ontario. We know that Canada’s claim of being an anti-racist multicultural safe haven is absurdly untrue and continues to be a way in which those benefiting from white privilege can refute claims of anti-black racism throughout the country. Until policies, practices, and legislation are addressed and changed anti-black racism will remain prevalent in Canadian society.

[Michelle]

Anti-Black is still a problem in Ontario because anti-Black racism still exists in schools. We need a school system in Ontario where the experiences of black students are centred and the knowledge, needs, and aspirations they bring into the classroom are honored and validated.

[jordan]

Addressing anti-Black racism in Ontario requires a multi-faceted approach that includes education, policy changes, diversity and a /ton/ of community engagement. I believe that a major contributor to this issue is the lack of diversity in leadership positions within healthcare institutions that contribute to the perpetuation of systemic racism. Diverse perspectives at decision-making levels are crucial for addressing and dismantling discriminatory practices. Leaders influence organizational policies and advocacy efforts. Diverse leadership can contribute to the development of policies that actively address and mitigate systemic racism within the healthcare system. They can also advocate for broader societal changes to promote health equity.

[Sahir]

Anti-Black Racism has a long history in Canada, and similarly in Ontario.

Therefore, it will take years of individual effort as well as systemic changes in order to make meaningful progress on this issue. Thanks to Youthrex for their efforts in this area, and I hope that we all agree that more work needs to be done to ensure that the Canadian black community is treated with fairness and as the integral part of Canadian and Ontarian society that they are.

[Sandra]

I think the narrative of the “cultural mosaic” of Canada and the lack of systemic recognition of Canada’s harm to racialized people allows a lot of racism to fester. Also a lack of a forum for free conversations around personal biases can make confronting systemic and personal discrimination difficult

[Ellis]

Anti-black racism is not a new issue in Canada and has occurred in the education system for more than 160 years and includes the establishment of segregated schools for Black students. The impact and legacy of anti-Black racism date back to the North American Trans-Atlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Black people. Increased attention is now being paid to anti-Black racism because of recent global events. Black people and communities are not a monolithic group and come from diverse cultures, nationalities and have varying religions and customs.

[Nathalie]

It is crucial to note that racism has been a complex issue influenced by various factors over the years, including historical, social, and systemic elements. While progress has been made in addressing racism, its persistence can be attributed for several reasons. Historical legacies that we are made aware of have contributed to the perpetuation of racial inequalities. These legacies have then shaped societal structures and attitudes, leading to systemic discrimination against black individuals. Unconscious biases and stereotypes also continue to influence perceptions and treatment of black people. These biases manifest into various settings, such as education, employment, housing, and criminal justice systems, leading to ongoing disparities and unequal opportunities. Lack of awareness and understanding about the experiences and contributions of black communities contribute to the perpetuation of stereotypes and discrimination. Education and awareness initiatives are crucial in challenging these biases and promoting inclusivity for all. However, addressing racism requires ongoing and collective efforts from individuals, communities, institutions, and governments. It involves implementing policies and practices that promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, as well as actively challenging discriminatory behaviors and attitudes. It is important to recognize that progress is being made in combating anti-black racism in Ontario, but there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve a more equitable and inclusive society overall.

[Mia]

Anti-Black Racism was and doomed to be a chronic problem not only in Ontario, but also in many parts of the world, due to the complexity of it’s historical roots. Even today, so many racial inequalities are happening around us, which can be observed in areas such as education, employment, housing, and criminal justice system, etc. As an individual, I can only try my best to support the students to get what they are looking for, and I hope there will be more comprehensive and sustained effort involving individuals, communities, institutions, and policymakers into anti-black racism practices. Initiatives that promote inclusivity, diversity, and equality in all aspects of society are essential for creating lasting change.

[Fiona]

How does a person extract the xenophobic membrane, which is in itself an epidemic and appears to be an intrinsic part of human ‘perception’. I feel that Anti-black racism – indeed racism of any kind will be a slow process of individuals reconciling generalizations, interacting with an individual instead of a race. Although legislation and education may go a long way, I feel that the eradication of racist behaviour can be accomplished within the mind and soul of individuals. I feel solutions will need to start at a micro level in order to replace acceptance or opinions made in the haste of generalizations.

[Kaci-Ann]

Anti-Black racism is still a problem in Canada because it is an ongoing process that is overdue for a change. Provide more awareness about black culture and protests is a great way to help Anti-Black racism in Canada.

[Liz]

I think a big part of it is cognitive dissonance. People are aware racism exists at a structural level but they choose to ignore it rather than protest it. People prefer to believe that Ontario being multicultural is enough. I think it’s difficult for people to challenge authority so if those in positions of power are not leading change at an organizational level these necessary changes will never happen. It’s important for everyone to work towards changing this culture where we are “comfortable” with how things are and challenge the status quo but people are afraid of seeming difficult.

[Rosananthi]

Anti-Black racism in Ontario continues because of implicit biases, and a lack of representation. We need better education and rules to make things more fair and equal.

[Oksana]

Anti-Black racism persists in Ontario due to historical legacies and systemic discrimination, institutional biases, cultural stereotypes, and inadequate representation. In few posts, it was mentioned, that it is usually associated with US, rather Ontario (Canada), and treated as this issue does not exists here.

Addressing this issue requires many efforts, including community engagement, and challenging stereotypes, promoting dialog, and increasing awareness.