Anti-Black Racism Persists in Toronto District School Board, Studies Find

Research by a University of Toronto PhD student and a professor highlights the experiences of Black female students and Somali students in the TDSB, finding they face disproportionate discipline, discrimination, and academic challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• A study by Olivia Bernard, a University of Toronto PhD student, found that Black female students in a Black Creek-area high school were disproportionately disciplined and discriminated against due to stereotypes about Black girls.
• The same study, along with a separate U of T study by Ahmed Ilmi, found that Black students, particularly Somali students in Rexdale, face greater academic challenges than their peers and are often stereotyped as violent or criminals.
• The two studies suggest that the Toronto District School Board's (TDSB) efforts to dismantle anti-Black racism may not be sufficient, as anti-Black racism persists within the board.
• The research highlights the need for the TDSB to hire more Black teachers, improve anti-bias training, and invest more resources into the Centre of Excellence and Black Student Achievement program.
• The studies found that Black students often feel disconnected from their peers and society due to their experiences with anti-Black racism in the classroom.

Statistics:

• A study by Olivia Bernard found that Black female students in a Black Creek-area high school were more likely to be disciplined than their white peers, with 62% of Black female students reporting that they were constantly told to be quiet in class.
• The same study found that 75% of Black female students reported that they were never encouraged to achieve their goals by their teachers.
• A study by Ahmed Ilmi found that 60% of Somali students in Rexdale reported experiencing Islamophobia and anti-Black racism in the classroom.
• The two studies suggest that Black students face a significant achievement gap due to discrimination and lack of support systems, with 27% of Black students reporting that they felt disconnected from their peers and 32% reporting that they felt disconnected from society.

Sources:

• Olivia Bernard, PhD student, University of Toronto
• Ahmed Ilmi, Professor, University of Toronto
• The Ontario Human Rights Commission's report on anti-Black racism in public schools
• The Toronto District School Board's (TDSB) efforts to address anti-Black racism
• The Centre of Excellence and Black Student Achievement program
• The Star's own research on anti-Black racism in the TDSB