Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression
Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression
The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) embraces Catholic social justice teachings to foster inclusive and equitable learning environments, prioritizing the dignity and worth of every individual. Recognizing barriers faced by marginalized groups, we commit to intentional actions to remove obstacles and ensure equitable outcomes for all students, regardless of their backgrounds or identities. Through anti-racist, anti-oppression, and decolonizing methodologies, we strive to transform education and empower students to reach their full potential.
Learn about our TCDSB Equity Action Plan.
Anti-Racism
Anti-racism is the “active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes, so that power is redistributed and shared equitably.” – from the National Action Committee on the Status of Women International Perspectives: Women and Global Solidarity
"When it comes to race, racism, and antiracist work, it is important that everyone feels safe, but equally important that many also feel uncomfortable. It’s only through discomfort, perhaps pain and suffering, that we grow, develop, and change for the better.” - from Frankie Condon and Vershawn Ashanti Young, Performing Antiracist Pedagogy in Rhetoric, Writing, and Communication, 2017
"Anti-racism is an active and conscious effort to work against multidimensional aspects of racism." - Robert J. Patterson, professor of African American Studies at Georgetown University, speaking to Business Insider.
Racism scholar Ibram X. Kendi says one is either racist or anti-racist. There is no room for neutrality, and there is no such thing as a "non-racist."
Anti-Oppression
Anti-oppression refers to a set of principles, practices, and strategies aimed at challenging, reducing, and ultimately eliminating systemic inequalities, discrimination, and power imbalances within society. These practices recognize that certain groups are marginalized or oppressed based on various aspects of their identity, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, class, ability, age, religion, and more. The goal of anti-oppression work is to create a more equitable and just society by addressing and dismantling these structures of oppression.
One of the ways we engage in anti-oppressive work is by fostering inclusive communities through language. Please see our Guide to Stigmatizing and Discriminatory Speech.
TCDSB Black Voices Study
The Black Voices Study aims to bring awareness to the experiences of Black students, staff, and families at the TCDSB. Examining the experiences of Black students, staff, and families will allow for increased awareness and understanding of how anti-Black racism is contextually prevalent within the TCDSB.
The research analyzed and summarized in the Black Voices Study report is the result of a collaboration between the TCDSB, the African Canadian Advisory Committee, the Department of Indigenous Education, Equity, and Community Relations, the Human Rights and Equity Advisor Office, and the Department of Educational Research.
In addition to informing TCDSB strategic documents, we expect that the subsequent reflection and voices in this report will help improve educational practices and build a stronger relationship with Black students, staff, and families within the TCDSB.
Public Speaking Contest
The Equity Action Plan Public Speaking Contest 2024 took place at the CEC, celebrating students’ critical engagement with the Equity Action Plan. The speeches can be watched in the following video: