Confronting Anti-Black Racism

Systemic anti-Black racism permeates nearly every institution across Canada and our university is no exception. This reality can often subject Black students, faculty and staff to systemic exclusion, experiences of individual racism, racial microaggressions, chronic underrepresentation across the university, inequitable course content and delivery, and many other discriminatory outcomes. 

The Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) recognizes that while we have made some progress towards furthering equity, diversity and inclusion at TMU—including hiring the first vice-president (Dr. Denise O’Neil Green) fully dedicated to equity and community inclusion at a Canadian university, and hosting the first White Privilege Conference in Canada—more direct action needs to be taken to realize sustainable social progress and racial equality.

Reporting 

In recent years, a number of consultative, evidence-based and action-oriented reports have enabled the OVPECI and partners to continue to identify and address anti-Black racism at the university. 

Over ten years ago, an Anti-Racism Task Force at Toronto Metropolitan University released a report that examined systemic racism and barriers on campus while laying out recommendations to create a more inclusive campus environment for all students, faculty and staff to study, work and teach. A few years later, the Black Liberation Collective–TMU, a student group, raised new concerns regarding the prevalence of anti-Black racism on the campus. 

In 2019, in response to these concerns and as the tenth anniversary of the  (PDF file) 2010 Anti-Racist Task Force approached, the OVPECI, under the direction of former vice-president, equity and community inclusion, Dr. Denise O’Neil Green, initiated the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review.

The Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report was released at an online event (external link)  in 2020, and highlights the real-life experiences of Black students, faculty and staff to foster a greater understanding of the realities they experience with anti-Black racism in a Canadian post-secondary institution. 

The findings were gathered from focus groups in which over 60 Black-identified students, staff and faculty were interviewed. The 14 recommendations outlined made clear what needed to be accomplished in order to create a campus environment: 

• where everyone feels they belong;
• that is reflective of our school’s entire population; and
• where people feel welcomed, valued, seen and heard.

We would like to thank the Black students, faculty and staff who shared their personal experiences with us as well as the changes they would like to see on campus.

Visit the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism reports page to view the documents. 

What is the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism? 

In tandem with the release of the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report, the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism was formed. This committee, composed of close to 50 dedicated individuals from across the university, is tasked with the implementation of the 14 recommendations included in the report.

Learn more

Visit the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism website for more information and to read the reports. 

Questions?

• If you have any questions or require more information about the university’s work to confront anti-Black racism, please contact the OVPECI at equity@torontomu.ca.
• If you have any questions or require additional information about the Anti-Black Racism Climate Review, please email abr.review@torontomu.ca.