Systemic racism has a longstanding presence in the Canadian health care system, leading to disparate health outcomes for racialized peoples, a reflection of the historical and ongoing racism faced by Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities that continues to impact their health and well-being.
What is anti-Black racism and how does it affect the health of Black people?
Anti-Black racism is a term that was first coined by Dr. Akua Benjamin, a former professor of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University (Black Health Alliance, 2025), and is defined as a form of discrimination that targets Black people (Ndumbe-Eyoh, 2018).
Evidence increasingly demonstrates the devastating impacts of anti-Black racism on the health and wellbeing of Black people. Please find more information on these impacts from the Black Physicians of Canada: https://blackphysicians.ca/.
How can we address anti-Black racism in the health care system?
The answer to this question is complex. Addressing racism in the health care system in a meaningful way, will require a multi-layered approach, and an ongoing commitment from leadership and staff to dismantle the racist structures that contribute to inequitable health outcomes for Black people.
At TBRHSC, the Indigenous Collaboration, Equity, and Inclusion department, in collaboration with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee and our partners, is committed to building a strong foundation for health equity at our organization by:
- Creating a toolkit of practical strategies for all leadership and staff to embed EDI into everything that we do.
- Developing a framework to guide clinical and strategic initiatives at our organization from an EDI lens.
- Developing a Black Health Action Plan to address the needs of Black people in the communities that we serve, with funding from Ontario Health.
For more information on anti-Black racism, please click here.
Additional information sourced in this post can be found here:
Massaquoi, N. (2023). Racial humility over competence: Addressing anti-Black racism and healthcare leadership responsibility. Healthcare Management Forum, 36(5), p. 280–284. DOI: 10.1177/08404704231186807
Ndumbe-Eyoh, S. (2018). Let’s talk: Racism and health equity (Rev. ed.). National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. Antigonish, NS: National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, St. Francis Xavier University.