[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.

[Farah Slimati –]

Spoken Words by Asante gave me goose bumps. Very Powerful! I did more research on him and I really admire his advocacy for mental health. This is an area where there is evident injustices and disparities. A lot of work needs to be done.

[Kathe]

Absolutely, Farah.

If you didn’t come across this in your research, you may be interested in a conversation that Asante participated in last year — Opening Up: Creating Healing Spaces for Young Black Men. This webinar also featured a powerful short film by Eben Odonkor.

[Yasmine]

ABR is still a problem in Ontario because we have clung to the myth of being “universal peacekeepers” and the “better” version of the USA. Our multicultural mosaic trope has us believe that we have overcome racial inequality but in reality, we use this mosaic to cover longstanding histories of ABR in Canada (i.e. KKK formations) and erasure of Black Canadian presence and accomplishments. In Ontario we have areas that are racially diverse, which can create competitions and conflict between POCs. As we learned in the Brown Complicity module, model minority myths can cause ABR and the resurgence of whiteness to even come from other racialized groups. In the areas of Ontario where there is less racial diversity, we still see ignorance de to lack of exposure and Black erasure of those lands (i.e. the history of Black settlement in Oakville has been erased and Oakville has been considered a “white city” despite Black existence for generations).

[Monique]

I totally agree with you, Yasmine. I keep going back to when I was in school and we learned about the Underground Railroad like a big symbol of our national pride, but there was no mention about slavery and the racism in Canada, and how Black people were treated when they came to the country (and the fact that it was so bad they left). Or that we were never taught the contributions of Black Canadians to Canadian history. I grew up in Southwestern Ontario, and never learned about the Black settlements and communities that lived there. I am white and we never talked about race when I was growing up, so I had to do my own learning to get comfortable with saying things out loud – even saying the word Black, because somehow I thought that pointing it out was rude? So if people can’t talk about race, or don’t feel equipped to have the conversation, it makes it even harder to have the real conversations about structural racism, or that the country was founded on principles of white supremacy and continues to create disparities for Black folks today.

[YouthREX- Kamau]

I believe the point being made here is so important. Ontario’s diversity has too often been used as a barometer to signify the overcoming of racism when that isn’t the case. That along with the comparisons to the more anti-oppressive practices of the United States has been used to mislead people about anti-black racism in Canada.

[Ms. Laura]

I believe ABR is a reality in Ontario because those who are in positions of power allow it to be. When non-Black citizens are benefiting from this gross inequity, why would they want to eradicate it? And, if we have leaders (some in the highest positions of authority in our country) who are promoting ABR or denying that it exists, some of our highly susceptible or impressionable citizens will believe them blindly. Thus, the cycle continues and models to our citizens that this is “how it is” or how “this is how it was always done.”

[Angeli]

I think the big problem is that people support what is going on at the time in the media and then once something else comes up they support that and then the next and the next. People dont always take the time to educate themselves on what is going on, why it is going on and how they can help. They see something to support and go with it and then onto the next, not realizing if they believe in changing something they can learn and support that consistently

[Camilla Persaud –]

I believe anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario because of the amount of people who are benefiting from it. Until we can actually instil change and break down the existing systems built on racism, society will not fight against it because it has learned to reap the rewards of oppressing others. When one speaks up, they are viewed as being radical or rebellious or not a part of the “team”, they face so many repercussions for challenging the “norms” that these institutions have created. As long as Ontario upholds these systems and policies in place, the society will hold these beliefs to be true. In the meantime, there are people out there who are fighting for change and challenging these systems – who are doing great work to be heard and seen yet there are too many people who are “silenced and neutral” so the numbers aren’t there to overthrow the systems in place.

[Cyril]

Hmm… well said. When institutions (and individuals) do more work to say the right things rather than change/address wrongful actions/ideologies, it reinforces systemic oppression and attempts to mask accountability.

More work is needed to confront anti-Black practices and ideologies in earnest so that more people can feel invested in total human liberation and reject investments/benefits from the dehumanization of “othered” people.

[Joe]

I think an important note from the video lectures is the difference in scope when thinking of racism in an individual view versus a systemic view.

An individual might not consider themselves to be racist (although I would still argue that all people have biases), but they may have been benefited by or negatively impacted by the environment/system they live/work/learn in without intent or as a result of individual action.

At the end of the day, I think that ABR still exists because:

• I think we must actively practice (1) identifying our individual biases and (2) taking action to correct that bias. In the end, I’d argue that the average person does less of this than they should.
• Even if a person is individually active in their effort to overcome bias, this is insufficient to eradicate ABR. That person can still benefit from or be negatively impacted by their larger environment without intent or as a result of their actions.

We need to make radical change in all of our environments and systems to eradicate ABR. ABR is so multi-faceted that I think it will require a collective, cross-race, multi-generational effort to completely eradicate. But every step we take (including taking this course) brings us one step closer.

[Amani]

Anti-Black racism is a still a problem because we’re living on the foundations of Anti-Black Racism. As Professor Michelle Johnson explained in 1.2, the history of black people within Canada has been erased. The writing of history is a political act, what we produce has a reason, and when we are able to understand that everything has a reason why it’s been produced (and in this case to erase black presence.) We then can see how this has had an effect on the education system, health care system and judicial system.

We still see how the roots of the ideologies made to oppress Black people have been ingrained in Canadian culture but also have evolved to develop new systems of oppression. For example: social media messaging, advertising, and in my opinion even the things taught during black history month being an incomplete history that focuses only on recent Black history and mostly black trauma.

It’s still a problem because the foundations of the systems of Canada have been made to work against the progress of the ABR framework and needs to be reformed from the root to develop positive change systemically.

This isn’t to say that ABR framework doesn’t work, since it does address the personal and Interpersonal anti-black racism that is within communities and organizations.

[YouthREX- Kamau]

I absolutely agree with this point. Analyzing anti-black racism on an individual level ignores its systemic presence and can prevent real change.

[Brody]

It is still a problem because systematic racism still exists. Remember the anti-racism protests happening during the pandemic? I was there and there were 1000s of supporters trying to fight against police brutality and violence against Black individuals. I also see racism in schools. The conversation of racism is far from over as there are deep roots that need to be addressed first.

[Joanne]

Your comment about Canada being open to multiculturalism resonates with me. I naively believed that Canada was not a racist place to live. How could I say that when I didn’t truly know the systemic oppression and racism black people experience. This course has taught me so much and made me realize I have so much to learn.

[Sandra]

I think that many well meaning people (myself included) have bought into the idea of multiculturalism without understanding, reflecting or thinking about the ‘monoculture’ aspect. This was new learning for me. Also the Angela Davis quote about it is not enough to be non-racist you must be anti-racist hit me square in the chest. I think I have spent a long time thinking being non-racist, raising my children non-racist and approaching my clients as non-racist was enough and now I know differently.

[veronique]

Je suis d’accord avec vous. Le racisme est encore bien présent en Ontario. Le suprématisme blanc est encore bien ancré dans les traditions et la transmission des savoirs sans personne ne se questionne vraiment. Il est temps de voir les choses autrement et surtout vivre les choses autrement. Cela passe en grand partie par l’éducation qui permettra de défaire ces schémas.

[Antonella]

Thank you for your comment, this is very powerful and definitely resonates me.

[Cyril]

Excellent points. Thank you for sharing this example of how increased awareness can lead to informed transformation in our personal and professional spaces.

[Julie]

Yes April, I think it’s important to constantly reflect on these systemic barriers and how we are complicit within the system, while also considering how we can use our power to ensure we are moving towards change.

[April]

I agree with you Adam. I think the quote- “make visible what is invisible”- is very powerful and a forward movement to ensure working to look and re-look at the ways restrictions have contributed to Anti-Black Racism.

[Adam]

Anti-Black Racism is still a problem because systemically barriers are still in place. Concepts like meritocracy prevent real change from occurring and further entrench these barriers.

[Brittany]

Anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario because it is pervasive in every institution. Canada had revised its history to emphasize multiculturalism and its role in being a safe haven for American slaves.

[Camila]

I absolutely agree that anti-Black racism continues to exist in Ontario because of the desire to hold on to the idealistic notion of being a multicultural safe haven, and for the constant denial of the existence of racism. It has been made invisible in that for some, including myself, this may be the first time truly comprehending Black History in Canada. This lack of awareness had lead to practices that are inherently flawed and racist, by the mere fact that they ignore what has been taking place historically – the oppression of Black individuals.

[YouthREX- Kamau]

I absolutely agree with this – Ontario has utilized revisionist history when discussing it’s role in slavery and systemic racism. If anti-black racism isn’t first acknowledged then it won’t be addressed or changed.

[Brad]

To quote Nene Kwasi Kafele, he referred to an African proverb, “if you think education is expensive, try ignorance”. This reminds me to continually check myself and ally with those who can support efforts individually, collectively and institutionally to dismantle ignorance. I am open for change and willing to challenge the oppression that currently exists in centering black youth wellbeing. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to learn and be apart of something that requires voice, leadership and a strong urgency to have difficult conversations. I believe that these conversations will slowly bring about change and influence our workplace practices, whether they be organizational or political.

[Cyril]

Indeed – personal, organizational and political change is a must and will ultimately benefit everyone.

[Poni]

I believe that if people are constantly lured by the appeal of face value “multiculturalism”, void of reflection, we cannot be surprised by anti-Black racism in Ontario. There is a lack of education, and also an unwillingness to believe that sin exists in our politeness.

[Cyril]

I agree.

For some, there is more far concern for being socially embarrassed rather than being socially just.

[Maryn]

I think that one of the contributing factors to this may be a historical lack of attention to discussing and addressing racism in our educational systems at all levels. It feels that it has just been recently that space has been allowed and created to address, discuss and challenge anti-black racism and hopefully lead to positive changes.

[Debra]

I think Canadians are always comparing themselves to Americans, and gauge what they see a overt racism as ‘much worse down there’. When the media reports racism against Black people the framing is that it is an incident and not part of a larger systemic issue.

[YouthREX- Kamau]

Great point!

I think that the media tends to look at racism as individual instances instead of a systemic problem, so that they can’t be held accountable.

[Poonam]

Hi Victoria, I agree with what you have said. A lot has to do with taking the time to reflect on our own biases that may exist and find ways to learn more about how to help those around us. If we want real change, we have to do our own part so that collectively we are moving towards ending this problem.

[Lynne]

Some of our bias may be sub-conscious, in the sense that until we are in a situation or learn new perspectives, we may not be aware of this bias.

[YouthREX- Kamau]

I agree with this point! Anti-black racism has been present in the Ontario systems for so long that it is hard for people to recognize the problems in the system because it has just become the norm.

[Mark]

I totally agree; when thinking about my own work and anti-racist journey, I find it is helpful for me to reflect on the systems in which I/we live. When we are navigating and live within social systems and structures that were made by and for cis, white men, we are going to internalize racist assumptions and ways of behaving without this necessarily being in our conscious awareness. Doing the difficult work to unlearn and relearn helps me in seeing what I didn’t see before and has allowed me to do better. The less I take for granted and the more I learn and question, the more I find myself able to engage my family, friends, and peers in anti-racist conversation and continue to do the work to raise awareness of and push back against anti-Black racism and other systems of oppression.

[Cyril]

Combatting internalized oppression is a constant process that needs more acknowledgement. I think that Anti-Black racism is an ideology that influences everyone’s perspective, regardless of good intensions.

[Tyler]

I believe anti-Black racism is still a problem in Ontario because:
(1) A lack of consistent, updated, and publicly available data creates a context where the Government does not have to hold itself accountable, and makes it difficult for the public to hold it accountable as well as persuade a society rooted in xenophobia
(2) It’s very easy for people to become so caught up in their own problems within a neoliberal society that they don’t consider marginalized perspectives.
(3) Unconscious bias needs to be more widely recognized and addressed purposively

[Victoria]

I believe anti-black racism in still a problem in Ontario for many reasons. I think part of the problem is lack of responsibility, lack of self reflection as well as lack of understanding. I learned so much during these modules even though I came into this thinking I had a decent understanding of anti-black racisms.

[Jenny]

Anti-Black racism continues to be an ongoing issue in Ontario because those that have the power to make change for Black communities and combat issues that perpetuate oppression are frequently not members of the Black community themselves. An example of this can be seen with the history of the Ontario premiers. Ontario has had 26 premiers since 1867. 25 have been white men. 1 was a white woman.