Anti-Black Racism, Resilience and Action
The guiding theme for ActionDignity’s Black History Month (BHM) is “Understanding Black Identity and Resilience in the Face of Anti-Black Racism.”
Anti-Black racism is explained as a particular form racism experienced by Black people in Canada (James et al, 2010). In his concluding thoughts on a report to the Ontario government in 1992, Stephen Lewis, described anti-Black Racism this way: “What we are dealing with, at root, and fundamentally, is anti-Black racism. While it is obviously true that every visible minority community experiences the indignities and wounds of systemic discrimination throughout Southern Ontario, it is the Black community which is the focus. It is Blacks who are being shot, it is Black youth that is unemployed in excessive numbers, it is Black students who are being inappropriately streamed in schools, it is Black kids who are disproportionately dropping-out, it is housing communities with large concentrations of Black residents where the sense of vulnerability and disadvantage is most acute, it is Black employees, professional and non professional, on whom the doors of upward equity slam shut.” Unfortunately, for many Black people-children, young adults and adults, these experiences have not changed much as many people continue to experience everyday anti-Black racism.
These experiences and interpretations of anti-Black racism combine to produce a more comprehensive insights into the world of Blackness and offer us an opportunity to work towards effectively transforming the Black experience. In other words, Black people continue to interpret our world in many ways and the key here is to transform it. And what needs to change is the translation of experiences of Blackness into actions that address the very disparities, indignities, and inequities that directly result from anti-Black racism.
Additionally, in his concluding thoughts on the report to the Ontario government, Mr. Lewis states “Just as the soothing balm of “multiculturalism” cannot unmask racism, so racism cannot mask its primary target.” This observation is a testament to the prevalence of anti-Black racism and points to the inadequacies of existing approaches to the problem of anti-Black racism.
At ActionDignity, we work to create transformational changes in our communities and in our societies. We also recognize that the history of Black people is a journey of a history filled with painful and violent experiences, useful, experiential knowledge and tangible solutions. Through our transformative programs, we continue to engage Black communities: families, youth, adults and the broader community in meaningful systemic actions for change. Please join ActionDignity to help make Calgary a just society for all.
References
James, C., Este, D., Thomas, W., Benjamin, A., Lloyd, B., & Turner, T. (2010). Race and Well-Being: The lives, hopes, and activism of African Canadians (1st ed.). Halifax, NS: Fernwood Publishing.
Lewis, S. (1992, June 9). Stephen Lewis report on race relations in Ontario. Retrieved February 4, 2025, fromchromeextension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ia903104.us.archive.org/22/items/stephenlewisrepo00lewi/stephenlewisrepo00lewi.pdf