OHRC refuses to proceed with a public inquiry regarding anti-Black racism in the education system

BY PAUL JUNOR

Parents of Black Children (PoBC) have been at the forefront of advocating for the educational rights of BIPOC students across Ontario. The mission of PoBC is to support parents and facilitate equitable outcomes for Black children. PoBC is particularly concerned about the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s refusal to launch a formal inquiry into anti-Black racism in the education system.

On Saturday, June 25^th, 2022, POBC organized a rally for Black students at the Ontario Human Rights Office at 180 Dundas St. W. In the promotional material that was sent out by PoBC it states, “We are Rallying for the safety of Black Students. We need the Ontario Human Rights Commission to initiate a formal and holistic inquiry into the anti-Black racism in the education system.”

PoBC observes that despite meeting with the OHRC and submitting 60 Victim Impact Statements, it has still refused to proceed with a public inquiry. PoBC calls on the community to send an email to OHRC Commissioner Patricia DeGuire. It states, “Black families and students across Ontario have been subject to anti-Black racism within education systems for decades. In fact, the OHRC itself was built and designed to address the systemic oppression of Black people and education advocates and community leaders like Dudley Laws and Eva Smith, spent decades advocating and fighting for Black families to have equitable experiences within the education system.

Despite fighting this fight for generations, anti-Black racism within schools and education institutions is still a very prevalent issue that is actively emotionally and physically traumatizing our children and families. THIS IS A CRISIS.”

Some of the calls at the rally were:

• You’ve seen the stories. You know there is an anti-Black racism crisis in our education system.
• They are saying their inquiries and reports don’t matter.
• They are saying Black students don’t matter.
• But did you know the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is refusing to do their job.

PoBC is aware of the important work that OHRC has done since it was established in 1977 and notes, “The call for discrimination within education is not far away from their origin purpose,” which was to, “Investigate and settle complaints of discrimination in employment.”

PoBC elaborates that, “It is important to acknowledge that out of all their inquiries conducted none have been a holistic view on the anti-Black racism experienced by Black students in Ontario.” It concludes, “The time is now for a specific provincial inquiry into education focused on anti-Black racism that is traumatizing and destroying the opportunity for Black children to have an equitable and safe educational experience. Black students’ rights are human rights, and their needs shouldn’t have to fit into a broad or vague depiction of anti-Black racism. Their very real experiences are worth a fulsome inquiry.”