Health providers support Professor Avolonto against anti-Black racism at York University

As health providers advocating for decent work, the Decent Work and Health Network supports Professor Aimé Avolonto who is speaking out against anti-Black racism he has endured at York University.

As the Black Health Alliance explained, anti-Black racism is “a major contributor to many of the disparities in health that Black people experience.” Because of systemic racism, Black workers are disproportionately paid lower wages and denied paid sick days, under-housed and over-incarcerated, and exposed to discrimination and violence on the street, in workplaces and throughout Canadian institutions. These produce significant strains on physical and mental health.

The Canadian Public Health Association recognizes racism as a public health issue. It has called on agencies and organizations—including those involved in education—to not only “adopt a formal statement condemning racism” but also to “monitor their organizations for stereotyping, discrimination, and racist actions and take corrective actions.” York University has adopted formal statements condemning racism. But as Dr. Avolonto explained in his 50-page allegation, Letter from a Black colleague, he has been repeatedly exposed to stereotyping, discrimination and racist actions. Rather than these actions being monitored and corrected, it is Dr. Avolonto himself who has been subjected to surveillance for trying to seek justice.

Last year the City of Toronto and TAIBU Community Health Centre launched Black Mental Health Day, explaining that “Black Torontonians frequently experience undue mistrust and scrutiny as part of daily life, in workplaces, schools, public spaces or during interactions with public institutions…These experiences can lead to or add to existing mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.” The years of anti-Black racism, mistrust and scrutiny to which Dr. Avolonto was subjected negatively impacted his mental health, leading him to attempt suicide more than once.

The Toronto Board of Health recognizes anti-Black racism as a public health crisis, including in education. As it explained, “Black people in our city experience racial profiling and anti-Black discrimination within our institutions, along with higher rates of precarious employment and unemployment.” Despite Dr. Avolonto being a tenured professor, he is now threatened with unemployment for speaking out against anti-Black racism—which is itself a form anti-Black discrimination.

This not only threatens Dr. Avolonto’s employment security and mental health, but by perpetuating the under-representation of Black faculty it undermines the education of Black students. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, “Black youth often lack educator advocates and lesson plans that are relevant to their lives, histories and communities, which can lead to disengagement from school.”

Dr. Avolonto has highlighted how anti-Black racism fuels precarious work and mental distress, and undermines employment and educational opportunities for Black people. Achieving decent work and health requires challenging anti-Black racism in workplaces and on campuses, which begins by supporting Black workers who are speaking up. As health providers advocating for decent work, we support Professor Avolonto and urge our members and supporters to add their solidarity.