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ANTI-BLACK RACISM STATEMENT
As White-Skinned Privileged Board Members of Equitable Action for Change we are outraged by the ongoing systemic racism, bias, violence and systemic brutality against Black bodies in our professional, political, legal, healthcare, social and personal spaces. We support all people and organizations who work to end systemic
Anti-Black racism as well as those who openly protest to oppose systemic Anti-Black racism.
We grieve with our Black community members who are suffering. We vehemently and resoundingly denounce all forms of Anti-Black Racism, colonialism and white supremacy. We are cognizant these systems have a long history and deep roots in Canada where Black communities have long been denied their basic human rights.
We acknowledge that Anti-Black Racism is deeply harmful and has resulted in deeply unacceptable, unjust systemic disparities in our economic, health care, childcare, education, criminal justice, business, social and political… institutions.
To help change this, we at Equitable Action for Change are committed to ensure that our work contributes to ending Anti-Black and Anti-Indigenous racism, which cannot be done without intentional, ongoing critical self-reflection, education, action, engagement, and open dialogue.
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Our action plan is ongoing:
Learning: We are committed to our own self-learning, learning from and working with Black and Indigenous community members, volunteers, service users, educators, leaders, policy makers and organizations to ensure our Anti-Black racism prevention and intervention services are relevant and barrier-free.
Effective Allyship: We will work with Anti-Black racism grassroots activists, mainstream advocates, experts and leaders to ground our research and develop organizational practice, culture and policy solutions that dismantle systemic violence and colonialism and lead us towards true democracy, safety and inclusion.
Advocating: We will continue to highlight and call for action as we have done with our three change.org calls for action and multitude forms of advocacy
https://www.change.org/p/premier-of-ontario-funding-for-black-indigenous-and-2slgbtq-communities
https://www.change.org/p/stop-grandfathering-grandfather-legal-clauses-and-practices-in-canada
https://www.change.org/p/214-230-sherbourne-street-for-affordable-housing
In Collaboration with Calls from Black Leaders and organizations, we will advocate for and demand the province of Ontario and Canadian government commit to the allocation of targeted and protected funds to provide socially, culturally appropriate, health and well-being support for Black communities. A critical component of undoing systemic Anti-Black racism is actively working towards making Black life livable in our country. Black created, led and focused-serving grassroot organizations must be given the support they need to continue providing these frontline services.
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Operations Reform: including
·Working to identify and remove systemic Anti-Black racism barriers in human resource policies, programs and practices.
·Ensuring that the diversity of the Board and senior leadership is reflective of the communities we serve and support.
·Continuing Education: Providing all Board Members, Staff, Volunteers and Students with a foundational awareness and understanding of systemic Anti-Black Racisms, and the skills to address it.
Let’s end Anti-Black Racism Now and Forever.
Key Statistics:
A recent BCG report says the data indicates that systemic Anti-Black racism exists in Canada and is worse than many Canadians think
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Black workers are twice as likely as Asian workers and four times as likely as White workers to report experiencing racial discrimination in major decisions at workplaces in Canada
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Black university graduates earn only 80 cents for every dollar earned by White university graduates – despite having the same credentials
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Black residents are 20 times more likely than a White resident to be shot dead by police in Toronto
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2019 survey indicates nearly half of Canadians believe discrimination against Black people is “no longer a problem” – even as 83% of Black people in Canada say they are treated unfairly at least some of the time.
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Black communities in Canada have doubled in size over the past 25 years to more than 1.2 million people – 3.5% of the national population. One out of every 30 Canadians is Black – a number that jumps to one in 11 people in Toronto – the experiences and diversity of Black communities in Canada are often aggregated into the category of “visible minority” and often overlooked.
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October 2020, the unemployment rate for Black Canadians was 5 points higher than the rate for Canadians who are not a visible minority (11.7% vs. 6.7%).
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A national survey showed 21% of Black Canadians said they knew someone who had died of COVID-19, vs. 8% of non-Black Canadians.
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Black people make up 9% of Toronto’s population, they represent: 36% of cases where police used pepper spray on an individual; 46% of cases where police used a Taser on an individual; And 57% of cases involving a police dog. Black Torontonians represent 70% of civilian deaths in police shootings, meaning the police are 20 times more likely to kill a Black person than a White person.
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Black women are three times less likely to have a family doctor than non-racialized women in Ontario Black women are incarcerated at a rate of 259 per 100,000 compared to White women at 96 per 100,000; and 248 per 100,000 compared to “other” women. (Toronto Star)
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In Ontario Young Black Men between 18-34 years are incarcerated more at a range of 7000 per 100,000 in comparison to 1,400 per 100,000 for White men. (Toronto Star)
We MUST address SYSTEMIC ANTI-BLACK RACISM and the unique needs of Black Canadians due to the historic and present day daily systemic Anti-Black Racism. We cannot have reconciliation without reparation and healing. We can no longer afford to trivialize, ignore and cancel Black people’s histories and daily experiences in our shared society. We stand in unity and solidarity as effective allies to demand an Equitable Action for Change for our Black-Identifying communities.
Statement Inspirations, Sources & Documents
The Scarborough Charter
Family Service Toronto
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