Anti-Black Racism

Prevalence and Drivers of Systemic Racism and Discrimination 

 This section presents the existing literature and evidence on the prevalence and underlying factors contributing to anti-Black racism in Canada. 

Research articles 

Alhassan, J. A. K., Khare, N. S., & Tanvir, A. (2024). Variegated racism: exploring experiences of anti-Black racism and their progression in medical education. CMAJ, 196(22), E751-E759. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.231753 

Cotter, A. (2022). Experiences of discrimination among the Black and Indigenous populations in Canada, 2019. Juristat: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 1-14. https://ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fexperiences-discrimination-among-black-indigenous%2Fdocview%2F2635272824%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D9838 

DasGupta, N., Shandal, V., Shadd, D., & Segal, A. (2020). The pervasive reality of anti-Black racism in Canada. BCG Insights, 1-15. https://civicaction.ca/app/uploads/2021/03/realities-of-anti-black-racism-in-canada-2020-12-12-updated.pdf 

Dryden, O., & Nnorom, O. (2021). Time to dismantle systemic anti-Black racism in medicine in Canada. Cmaj, 193(2), E55-E57. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.201579 

Husbands, W., Lawson, D. O., Etowa, E. B., Mbuagbaw, L., Baidoobonso, S., Tharao, W., … & Etowa, J. (2022). Black Canadians’ exposure to everyday racism: implications for health system access and health promotion among urban Black communities. Journal of Urban Health, 99(5), 829-841. 10.1007/s11524-022-00676-w 

Mensah, J., & Williams, C. J. (2022). Socio-structural injustice, racism, and the COVID-19 pandemic: A precarious entanglement among Black immigrants in Canada. Studies in Social Justice, 16(1), 123-142. https://doi.org/10.26522/ssj.v16i1.2690 

Mensah, J., Firang, D., J. Williams, C., & Afrifah, M. (2021). Racial discrimination in the Canadian criminal justice system: how anti-black racism by the Toronto police harms us all. Canadian Social Work Review, 38(2), 63-86. https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1086120arCopiedAn error has occurred 

Prendergast, N., Boakye, P., Bailey, A., Igwenagu, H., & Burnett‐Ffrench, T. (2024). Anti‐Black racism: Gaining insight into the experiences of Black nurses in Canada. Nursing Inquiry, 31(2), e12604. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37805821/ 

Radebe, P. (2024). Anti-Black Racism in the Ontario Public School System: Problematizing the Labeling of Young Black Students as Troublemakers. Journal of Black Studies, 00219347241245365. 

Reports 

Government of Canada. (2024). Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2024-2028. Canadian Heritage. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/combatting-racism-discrimination/canada-anti-racism-strategy.html 

KPMG Canada. (2024). Canadian Employers Make Progress on Anti-Black Racism. Retrieved from https://kpmg.com/ca/en/home/media/press-releases/2024/02/canadian-employers-make-progress-on-anti-black-racism.html 

CivicAction & Boston Consulting Group. (2024). The Depth of Anti-Black Racism in Canada. CivicAction. Retrieved from https://civicaction.ca/news/new-civicaction-and-bcg-report-reveals-depth-of-anti-black-racism-in-canada 

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2024). Social Determinants of Health Inequities in Black Canadians: Snapshot. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health/social-determinants-inequities-black-canadians-snapshot.html 

Government of Canada. (2024). Canada’s Federal Prison Population Statistics. Public Safety Canada. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/combatting-racism-discrimination/canada-anti-racism-strategy.html 

Statistics Canada. (2022). Experiences of discrimination among the Black and Indigenous populations in Canada. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2022001/article/00002-eng.htm 

Statistics Canada. (2022). The Daily — Black and Indigenous people’s confidence in police. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220216/dq220216e-eng.htm 

Statistics Canada. (2022). The Social, Political and Economic Participation of Black Canadians. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220517/dq220517c-eng.htm 

Statistics Canada. (2024). The Diversity of the Black Populations in Canada, 2021. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-657-x/89-657-x2024005-eng.htm 

Statistics Canada. (2020). Canada’s Black Population: Education, Labour and Resilience. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-657-x/89-657-x2020002-eng.htm 

Videos 

 Living In Colour: The History of Anti-Black Racism in Canada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoJPO1PsRnw 

Anti-Black Racism in Canada; Causes, Impacts, and Remedies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0MD_ShU6cU 

The Impact of Anti-Black Racism on Children and Youth in Canada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI6qLJrM40w&t=62s 

Beyond a Boundary of Systemic Anti-Black Racism in the Workplace in Canada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV2qMwherMs 

Reflection, Engagement & Action Against Anti-Black Racism in Ontario: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2SHDrjr79s 

Understanding Anti-Black Racism and How to Be an Ally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONuUupfA1gg 

Anti-Black Racism in Canadian City Planning [Docuseries]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDCLolf8jBM 

Documentaries 

The Skin We’re In: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msoBTIv1VqM 

• Directed by Charles Officer, this documentary features journalist Desmond Cole and explores anti-Black racism in Canada. 

Black Ice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0c20Hl6w70 

• A 2022 documentary about the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes and anti-Black racism in hockey. 

Sugarcane : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGrwoBQxuVw 

• This documentary explores the intersection of anti-Black racism and colonialism, focusing on the abuse at St. Joseph’s Indian Residential School in British Columbia. 

Black Life: Untold Stories: https://gem.cbc.ca/black-life-untold-stories 

• A CBC documentary series documenting Canada’s history of anti-Black racism through interviews and archival footage. 

 Journey to Justice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UENQu89u6Ic; https://www.nfb.ca/playlists/anti-racism-films/playback/#2 

• A documentary that highlights six individuals who fought against racism in Canadian courts during the 1930s to 1950s.