[Emma]

A simple resonse to a complex question: capitalism. Globally, inlcuding Canada, we function within a capitalist system that has deep historically roots, including the enslavement, colonization and domination of many cultures, countries and peoples. At it’s core, capitalism relies on the private accumulation of wealth and power and promotes a model of competition where increasing profit at any cost is the name of the game. Fundamentally, this system relies on the exploitation and oppression of certain groups, including Black and Indigenous folks, in order to accumulate wealth and power in the hands of the few (namely rich, White men). The narratives espoused about Black people and resulting dominant cultural and political ideologies that sustain anti-Black racism, as discussed in this module, are core to the capitalist agenda. Within our current capitalist system, anti-Black racism remains entrenched in systems and structures as their remains a vested interest from those in power (or those who practice and participate in Whiteness) to maintain the status quo and ensure access to wealth and power remains concentrated in hands of those who benefit from the way things are now.

[Natalie]

I couldn’t agree with you more, Emma. The fact remains that anti-Black racism persists because it benefits many institutions, systems and individuals in multiple seen and unseen ways, and disrupting that ‘status quo’ would require non-Black folks “giving up” a lot of this unearned privilege and power, including accumulated wealth! Thank you for your reflections here 🙂

[Laila]

A lot of people think that Canada doesn’t share a similar history of anti-Blackness with the United States and that our diversity and multiculturalism (especially in Ontario) must exempt us from ever possibly being racist, especially at an institutional or individual level. We applaud ourselves for the smallest changes and long over-due actions when we should be – and are capable of – doing so much more at a faster pace.

It’s easier to sweep anti-Black racism under the rug and instead celebrate Ontario’s diversity because facing the facts that anti-Black racism is entrenched in our institutions is too uncomfortable for some.

[Kate]

I agree with you. I have heard time and again that ‘at least we aren’t like the U.S.’. It is this ignorance of our own history that allows people to more easily sweep anti-Black racism under the rug.

[Kaamraan]

ABR is still a problem in Ontario because ABR is still deeply entrenched within Ontario at an individual, institutional, and provincial level.

[Alexandra]

I really think it’s about one thing: funding. Funding that is targeted to provide better infrastructure, education, healthcare, transportation and other resources so that black families are not systemically disadvantaged in so many areas.

[Tristan]

The more knowledge I seek, the more it becomes apparent that the entire western world thrives as a result of anti-Blackness. It is not something that can be remedied without re-constructing society itself. Anti-Black racism will persist as long as we continue to frame our society as a social totem pole. Those at the top are in power positions and will continue to perpetuate our current norms in order to refrain from relinquishing that power.

[Natania]

To me, this is still a problem because of no action. For years now I feel as though we have been asking the same questions and discussing best practices for incorporating Anti-Black racism policies in Canada. When it comes to the real work and doing something to enforce these policies very few step up to the plate and take on that task.

At a macro level, nothing will happen if those in power don’t share the same ideology because what we may see is a brief period of change and then back to the regular discrimination and marginalization our people face.

Lastly, we are in 2022 and people still think of Canada as this inclusive country…despite what we know regarding Indigenous people and the history of slavery and other discrimination that has happened here in Canada people still want to brush it under the rug and speak about the country as if its the perfect place to be – the problem can’t be fixed if people don’t see a problem.

[Christina]

Agreed! Denial and lack of action are great contributors to this problem.

[Shanieka]

Urgent action is needed to combat anti-Black racism, since it is not new and has been prevalent in both private and public sectors and being studied for decades.

Intentional action is needed now, stop talking about it and do something now. Decades later and we are still asking the same questions.

[Shalaine]

I couldn’t agree more. The lack of intentionality is why we’re still here. There needs to be well thought out and executed plans to combat anti-Black racism!!

[Danielle]

Agreed–and then whenever there are ABR initiatives, they get sub-summed by ‘EDI’ and the needs of other groups are prioritized.

[YouthREX- Kamau]

I definitely agree. Government officials and leaders often play a game of shock and awe when racism in Canada is exposed, and instead of acting surprised it is time to give tangible support to the discriminated communities.

[Shannon]

I feel you on this. It is always, “Canada isn’t like the States” or “We do things better here”. I think part of doing away with this “shock” you’ve described is quite literally allowing ourselves to become comfortable with the uncomfortable truth that Canada isn’t all we see in the media, or better off because we are simply not like the States. This “better than” rhetoric is not enough. It isn’t enough to be better than the States and for that degree of improvement to serve as a stand-in for justice. Good enough isn’t enough. Period. Lasting change never comes from simply wanting to do better than someone else. There must be an unrelenting honesty.

[Daniela]

I think that anti-Black racism is still not a significant part of the general discourse in Ontario. Especially at the systemic level, where often racism is tacitly accepted if not willingly supported. Offering more awareness-raising knowledge and showing more intolerance regarding racism might be ways to better incorporate anti-Black racism into the values of the Ontarian society.

[Jonah]

I think there’s several factors that play into anti-black racism in Ontario – the idea of Canada being a multicultural “utopia” plays up that anti-black racism doesn’t happen here, so it’s often less publicized and less likely to be called out, and without acknowledging our history and present reality of anti-black racism, it just keeps playing out. We’re also under a goverment in Ontario that frequently prioritizes police, which are a frequent and constant perpetrator of anti-black violence

[Erika]

I think there’s still this notion of Ontario, and Canada, being this multi-cultural society that is home to many diverse peoples. I don’t think people see or believe that racism is an issue that happens here, or that racism is much worse in other parts of the world, as if that excuses us from being racist. I also think that people don’t understand the systemic and structural nature of racism, and so when there is something that comes up, say in the media, it’s seen as an a fault or individual blame of a person or even a group, and keeps people or groups on the margins.

[Natalia]

Capitalism and Colonialism are still prevalent and the main tool of White Supremacy sentiments. Until this system is dismantled, it will not end.

[William]

.

[YouthREX- Kamau]

This Doing Right Together for Black Youth report by YouthREX outlines the top 10 issues for Black youth and their families based on 1,500 community members:

https://youthrex.com/report/doing-right-together-for-black-youth-what-we-learned-from-the-community-engagement-sessions-for-the-ontario-black-youth-action-plan/

[Tobin]

I believe anti-black racism is still a problem in Ontario for a number of reasons. I’ll address two of the reasons why I think it’s still a significant problem. 1) Those who are in power and authority are unwilling to sacrifice the benefits of their position to create sustainable change. 2) Racism is deeply entrenched in our history, our psychology, our bodies, our morals. To effectively impact/reduce racism and its consequences, there needs to be seismic shift in how we identify who the enemy is.

[Toni]

This question has bothered me from the beginning of this course. Mostly because I did not understand how to answer from my perspective. Each time I finished a module I would come back and read some of the responses and still not quite feel that it had been answered for me. However, this final module has brought some clarity. Two pieces. The first being self-reflection as an ongoing piece of what we do because, as it was stated, it’s not enough to be Black. It takes more than that to deal with and combat ABR. The second is for me the most important and that is the use of research and data collection to bring about lasting change. How many times have we heard about this research and that research on this topic or another that went nowhere after it was published? No action items. This was powerful to me. And I think will help me evaluate the questions I ask when working with Black youth. Why am I asking this question. Is it my own curiosity, or does it have relevance to how I will understand, support and resource this young person? So much food for thought.

[Jessica]

ABR is still an issue in Ontario because people who are in positions of authority and power are not committed to change. It is also an issue because nowadays we have a lot of initiatives that are put in place under the guise of anti-oppression, anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion but in reality, nothing is actually being done. These initiatives are merely about ticking off a checkbox.

[Kat]

I agree. There are systems that were designed to oppress that continue today, including justice and education systems. Like you said, there is performative action so it looks like there is change but there isn’t. I also think there’s a lot of silence. Where action could be real and make changes, there is silence instead.

[Deborah]

Until we have legislated accountability, it will continue to be a problem. Things are indeed changing, but much too slowly for me!

[Natalia]

I agree!

[derrick]

I agree Deborah. We definitely need legislation in place to help eliminate the anti-Black racism! I think to that, in a similar way to the liberation of 2S-LGBTQ+ folks, it will require a collective and personal confrontation with ideologies that are prejudiced and devalue particular human life and experiences. There is a cultural and ideological shift, a real healing one, to uproot discriminatory thinking and ways of organizing society.

[Sarah Durand –]

A friend of mine asked me a very interesting question the other day when discussing why after so long we still have such racism in our education systems. His question to me was, Who does anti-racist education benefit? He is a very vocal and active anti-racist educator within his school setting who since finding his voice has lost connections with most co-workers and many friends. He believes that until our upper management staff benefit from anti-racism there will be little change. Within the current system they hold the privilege and opportunities. This leaves them with little motivation to change.

[Arun]

Black people deserve the same rights, opportunities and quality of life as everyone else! Racism still exists here in Ontario and everywhere else in the world. We aren’t born to hate and should all receive the proper education to make Ontario and the entire world better! This program is a step in the right direction.

[Spencer]

One thing that has kept in my mind is how the upper management and management of organizations are predominantly white folks. In education, youth services, protection services, legal systems, medical systems, political systems, and all the other systems young black people’s lives often the folks in power do not reflect the people they are serving. Black folks are often passed over these positions due to Anti-back Racism itself and with a more representative management there is more work that can be done to shape systems. That is not to say that white managers should not be researching and implementing ABR practices and policies and that that the sole responsibility of fighting ABR is on black folks but that a restructure of those in power is necessary.

[Cyril]

For sure, the value of lived experience is terribly underrated and under valued in many instances in the sector. Various perspectives and experiences are needed! Moreover, your point about anti-Black racism operating within workplace cultures (even work places that serve predominantly Black youth/communities) is important to unpack.

I’m sure we have seen enough tokenized gestures of “inclusion” in lieu of structural and cultural reform. Where are the forums to ethically amplify the voice of community members and staff who are being held back by anti-Black racism? I believe that implementing their suggestions is a priority, but in this sector the “work” often begins and ends with consultations and recommendations. More capacity needs to be obtained for sustained, coordinated and cooperative actions which are tied to reciprocal methods of communal accountability.

[Ivan]

Not everyone is genuinely committed to anti-racist work. Most people do it performatively, or only if it is in their best interest. Few are willing to sacrifice anything for this work. As we’ve been learning here, there are hegemonic systems, structures and values that reproduce these injustices, and a very difficult road ahead to change that. If we could only be more effective at teaching empathy and social awareness, I think that would be a great step forward towards dismantling anti-Black racism.

[Sarah]

In education, Black students are still disproportionately disciplined and streamed into lower level classes.

[Ciara-Joy]

I believe that anti-black racism still exists in Ontario, because it still exists world wide. . This has been an issue forever, I believe that our media/social media etc hide it more. With more programs and educational services in place. I believe that we can not only make ONTARIO better, but the world better. Education is key!

[Phoebe]

I am advocating for my child’s right to an education free of hate, racism, and discrimination. This has been one of the most difficult experiences of my life, but if I give up the question “Why is anti-Black racism still a problem in Ontario?” will remain important. As traumatic as it has been for her and myself I will continue to fight for my child, as well as every other child of color that comes after her until there is change.

[Cyril]

Yes, change will come!

[Abdulai]

You just nailed it. Exactly some of the nuances that continue to perpetuate and reproduces racism in diverse ways.

[Abdulai]

Karen, I cannot agree with you more. I have met and engaged with friends and other professionals who have expressed consciousness in terms of the impact of racism on youth and their families. The challenge is, bringing such conversations to the public domain have been a huge challenge for some. And, unless and until we bring the conversations to public discourses, it is like being “complicit” in how issues of race and racism are usually kept under the carpet in Ontario with the rather nauseating pretext that it is not that bad in Ontario compared to the States. What a reasoning?

[Karen]

I believe anti-Black racism still exist in Ontario because there aren’t enough people (who are committed to the work of dismantling anti-Black racism) in places of power to shift policies, laws, and in general systems that are strategically in place to oppress Black people. In order to change the system we need to be in positions of influence within those systems to dismantle them from within. For example, as an educator you can use you power within schools to dismantle white supremacy and advocate for equity. As a healthcare/mental health provider you can use your power to decolonize services that are meant to heal by provide culturally responsive, inclusive care. As a youth justice worker, you can ground the service you deliver in anti-colonial practices that protect Black youth rather than perpetuate further harm. If you work in media, you could use your influence to change stereotypical representations of Black bodies that justify that Black lives [don’t] matter.

[Shannon]

Hi Karen, thank you for this thoughtful answer. I absolutely agree and share your frustration. I would add that a further challenge I sense in recent years is a growing discomfort when discussing issues of race, oppression and Anti-Black racism in particular. Folks at all levels of influence shy away from these conversations out of fear of saying the wrong thing, or shrug off these conversations as examples of extreme leftism or “social justice warrior” issues. This makes it near impossible to make concrete progress at any level in the system – or at least, this is something I’ve witnessed that concerns me. Again, thanks all for sharing & participating!

[Joan]

Last week I was at Erin Mills Town Center, which is in Mississauga, and I saw this sign at the entrance. How is this allowed? or make any sense. If you would like to contact Erin Mills Town Center here is there website site and contact us: https://www.erinmills.ca/pages/erinmills-contact-ushttps://www.erinmills.ca/pages/erinmills-contact-us . What also concerns me is that the manufacture who made this sign might have distributed to many other location ?

[Cyril]

Thanks for sharing. I am curious about their rationale for this one. I gave them a call and they said they will respond. I’ll share any updates.

[Joan]

Thanks for contacting them. One of my students said they wanted to email them, so we made it part of a lesson on how to write an email. They replied to my email asking where the sign is located. I’ll ask my students tomorrow if they replied to them.

[Cyril]

Ah, very nice.

I just got a call back explaining that this sign in particular was “missed” when they updated the company policy in 2019. Other signs had been removed and as of today this forgotten sign (at the entrance) has been replaced. At the beginning of the call there was a reference to an email they had received, so congratulations to your students on excellent advocacy work!

Targeting such a culturally distinctive head covering (used for hair styling and protection) as something ominous is very troubling. Beyond the fact that this item does nothing to obscure one’s face, the subtle and not so subtle institutional messaging that “you are not welcome” / “your presence is questionable” carries very serious psychological and social consequences.

I remember when I was doing youth work in a community a number of years ago and we shot a video which featured a local convenience store which had signs up limiting the amount of patrons and restricted backpacks. These signs were not neutral. These policies were there to filter young (mostly Black) youth in the community. The constant projection of a young Black person being seen as a potential threat until proven otherwise festers in street corners, shopping malls, parks, classrooms… but I am encouraged to see your students taking a stand. They are stronger than the forces against them.

Regardless of good intentions, institutions need to Center Black Youth Wellbeing by listening to what may be experienced as harmful and where improvements can be made.

[Claire]

Hi! I’m one of the students in Ms. Smith’s class. I’d like to thank you for your support and proaction.

[Cyril]

Hi Claire, Thanks for making this change happen!

[Madison]

I am a biracial black woman, and I grew up in rural Ontario. I believe that anti-black racism is still a problem in this province today because a lot of it is implicit or ignorant racism. For example, my siblings and I in elementary school being referred to as “the brown kids”, or my English teacher in high school asking my class if anyone was black, and my friend singling me out in front of everyone. Being asked why I’m not trying out for the basketball team. Being a “lightskin” and experiencing colourism, being not black enough or white enough to really fit anywhere. These few examples of microaggressions made me feel isolated, different, an “other”. Looking back, there were limited, if any, resources for me as a young black youth. I had to do my own research on racism in Ontario, because the falsehood of Canada being a “nice” country is damaging to so many marginalized minorities, not just the black community.

[Cyril]

Thanks for sharing these insights.

Conversations about colourism need to be a part of these dialogues and in discussions with young people. Here is a video produced by a colleague, Nayani Thiyagarajah, over 10 years ago on Shadeism: https://vimeo.com/16210769

Video Description: “Shadeism (2010) is an introduction to the issue of shadeism, the discrimination based on skin tone within different communities. This documentary short looks specifically at how it affects people within the African, Caribbean, and South Asian diasporas. Through the eyes and words of give young womxn and one little girl, the film takes us into the thoughts and experiences of each. Overall, this short explores where shadeism comes from, how it directly affects us as womxn of colour, and ultimately, begins to explore how we can move forward through dialogue and discussion.”

[Madison]

Thank you for sharing this video, Cyril!

[Farah Slimati –]

Listening with Empathy. Seek to Understand by showing curiosity instead of judging. These are the first steps build trusting relationships with our black youth.