New video takes aim at racism against Black community
It may be Black History Month but one Sudbury-based organization says we have a long ways to go before we're able to eliminate racism targeting the Black community.
On Monday, the Afro Women and Youth Foundation (AWYF) launched its anti-Black racism campaign with a new seven-minute video.
It interviews volunteers and youth about their perspectives, the struggles they've faced and how it's shaped their lives.
The video entitled, 'Youth Voices Against Anti-Black Racism,' was made in hopes of educating the public and engaging policy makers about the perspectives of Black youth.
"It's important because we have to be able to get what the children have said in the video out there in the public," said executive director Adebola Adefioye.
"People need to know how kids are feeling in the school system and teachers, counsellors, principals and everyone out there in the school system need to take responsibility."
As an immigrant from Nigeria, Adefioye said she's experienced anti-Black racism regularly and her children have faced it in the school system.
She said more advocacy, public education and equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives can help to eliminate the problem.
AWYF also does a lot of its work in the Greater Toronto Area.
"I don't feel like a lot of people would be surprised because people know how they treat people who don't look like them," she said.
"The youth said sometimes they get made fun of for the food they bring to school, sometimes they've used the 'N' word for them a couple times, sometimes they complain about their hairstyles that they have. A girl said her teacher told her, her hair looks like a mop. Like, how could you say that to a child."
Hammirah Eletu, 17, is a Grade 12 student at Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School in the Sudbury area who was also featured in the video.
Eletu said she felt it was important to take part and advocate in the video for others.
"I'm very passionate about taking about my struggles and the struggles that Black women face in our society,” she told CTV News.
“I just really love to talk about it and find ways to resolve the issues."
Eletu said the struggles are constant in Greater Sudbury.
"Just the micro-aggressive comments, people making fun of my hair because I'm constantly trying different hairstyles,” she said.
“I love to experiment. I do my own hair, so making fun of my hair. One time I had an Afro and someone said it looked like I got electrocuted.”
"I just want to spread awareness for Black History month and educate people. This is a very good advocacy video for those that are uninformed on Black History Month and the issues that Black youth face in our community," said Joanna, another youth.
Both girls are hopeful videos like this, one day, won’t be necessary and they will see an end to racist comments.
The video ends with one volunteer saying Black history and supporting the Black community doesn't have to be limited to the month of February.
The foundation has a whole page on its website dedicated to ways people can help, including a form letter that will help people send a note to the policy makers in their community, demanding that they take action.
According to Statistics Canada, the Black population now accounts for 3.5 per cent of Canada's total population and 15.6 per cent of the country's population defined as a visible minority.
In 2020, approximately 63 per cent of those reported experiencing discrimination five years prior to the beginning of the pandemic of during the pandemic, nearly double the amount of the country's White population. Black youth were mostly likely to report it compared to other age groups.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.