This page looks at anti-Black racism as an interlocking system of oppression that operates across Ontario sectors and institutions, including policing and corrections, education, child welfare, health care, housing, and more.
Cross-system research and analysis
- HairStory: Rooted – A firm foundation for the future of Black youth in Ontario's systems of care [2019]This report traces the evolution of the HairStory initiative and the working partnership between the Ontario Child Advocate and Black/African Canadian youth in Ontario’s systems of care. The bulk of the report is a summary of the recommendations made by over 130 youth to improve systems – including child welfare, mental health, and youth justice – and to make services more relevant and effective for Black youth in all their diversity
- Doing right together for Black youth: What we learned from the community engagement sessions for the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan [2017]This YouthREX report summarizes what was learned from engagement and consultation sessions with over 1,500 community members. Key issues identified by Black youth and their families include anti-Black racism in education, anti-Black racism in child welfare, and anti-Black racism in the criminal justice system
- Under suspicion: Research and consultation report on racial profiling in Ontario [2017]This report from the Ontario Human Rights Commission concludes that racial profiling and racial discrimination occurs in many sectors, systems, and institutions in Ontario, including policing, education, child welfare, housing, and more
Spotlight on anti-Black racism in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- A disparate impact: Second interim report on the inquiry into racial profiling and racial discrimination of Black persons by the Toronto Police Service [2020]Second interim report of an Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) inquiry into anti-Black racial profiling and racial discrimination by the Toronto Police Service. The report confirms that Black people are disproportionately arrested, charged, and subjected to use of force by Toronto police
- A collective impact: Interim report on the inquiry into racial profiling and racial discrimination of Black persons by the Toronto Police Service [2018]First interim report of an Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) inquiry into anti-Black racial profiling and racial discrimination by the Toronto Police Service. Among its findings, the OHRC concludes that Black people are grossly over-represented in cases involving police use of force that results in serious injury or death
- Towards race equity in education: The schooling of Black students in the Greater Toronto Area [2017]This report summarizes the experiences, issues, and concerns related to the education and schooling of Black students in the Greater Toronto Area
- Weaponization and prisonization of Toronto’s Black male youth [2014]Research article looking at anti-Black racial profiling targeted at young Black men living in Toronto Community Housing
- Addressing anti-Black racism as a public health crisis in the City of Toronto [2020]Item considered and adopted by the Toronto Board of Health that recognizes anti-Black racism as a public health crisis and a systemic issue impacting and intersecting with the social determinants of health
- Anti-Black racism analysis tool for a radically equitable COVID-19 response [2020]Resource from the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit which recognizes the need for COVID-19 responses to pay particular attention to anti-Black racism and the unique and distinct histories, experiences, and needs of Black communities
