Reckon This: Anti-Black Racism Campaign

A call to action on Anti-Black Racism at York University

Thousands of academics from across so-called Canada will converge at York University this week for the 2023 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Hundreds of meetings and countless discussions will take place, ostensibly informed by the theme “Reckonings & Re-Imaginings”–an attempt to grapple with the continuing realities of anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism among other forms of oppression, in the world today. But no meaningful “reckonings” or “re-imaginings” about Anti-Black Racism will be possible during Congress without an honest and open discussion about its widespread nature at York University and the harms it continues to inflict on Black students, staff, faculty, and community members at York.


Many of the most urgent and long-standing struggles against anti-Black racism at York University–struggles led by members of York’s Black community–have been ignored, dismissed, or erased, both in the lead-up to Congress and in its current programming.


York University publicly claims to support the goals of movements against anti-Black racism, while privately and not-so-privately engaging in racist administrative, management, and labour relations practices that entrench systemic anti-Blackness at all levels of the institution.This deep disconnect gaslights Black community members and other marginalized communities who must endure the harmful impacts of systemically racist practices as they study and work at York.


As members of the York University community, whether the Black students, staff, and faculty at the forefront of this movement, or as the allies who support them, we refuse to participate in this silencing of these struggles on campus.


We refuse to ignore, dismiss, or erase the lived experiences of Black community members, especially when they speak out and face retaliation from the administration.


We refuse the co-optation of the language and demands of Black community leaders, and of the wider struggle for Black liberation, by the York administration and their public relations spokespersons.


We refuse the complicity of anyone in our community who may not directly participate in these practices, but who decline to see, name, or speak out against them when they happen, especially if doing so threatens any positions of privilege they enjoy at York.

We call on Congress participants to interrogate the aims and claims of York administrators when they publicly endorse a process of “reckonings” and “re-imaginings” during Congress, but refuse to submit themselves or their record to any kind of meaningful review.


We call on participants to interrogate their own approaches to Congress discussions about these issues, and to resist the self-congratulatory rhetoric that is complicit in the erasure of the lived Black experience at York.


This call to action must continue past Congress and inform all our practices and approaches as members of our own academic communities at York and throughout the postsecondary sector.

But the actions we take this week–if we take them–could be a step in the right direction.

DEMANDS

YFS 2020 DEMANDS

We demand the following:

  1. Cops off Campus
  2. The implementation and institution of community-based alternatives to security and police forces in a campus safety plan, to be determined in collaboration with student leaders like ourselves, the department of social work, and staff and faculty who are familiar with abolitionist frameworks
  3. The re-introduction of the Community Safety Council at York to advise and oversee the Community Safety Department and Security Services
  4. That the recommendation of hiring 6 additional Black Faculty be accepted immediately
  5. The implementation of mandatory Anti Oppression and Mental Health training for all Staff and Faculty
  6. Collection of race-based data
  7. The introduction of a separate reporting process for incidents of Racism and Discrimination

Avolonto Campaign Demands

  • York University immediately cease its termination procedures against Prof. Avolonto
  • York University end the arbitrary and punitive leave it has imposed on Prof. Avolonto since December 1, 2018 and facilitate his return to work, including the assignment of teaching responsibilities, with appropriate accommodations and interim measures for all parties
  • York University take all necessary steps to end the racist harassment and retaliation facing Prof. Avolonto
  • The investigation by Roger Beaudry be suspended indefinitely; and all fees paid to Roger Beaudry by York University be disclosed publicly
  • York University President Rhonda Lenton, Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps, Senior Policy Advisor Barry Miller, and their designates immediately recuse themselves from the handling of Prof. Avolonto’s complaints and any other files related to Prof. Avolonto
  • In consultation with Black community members at York University and external experts, an independent and external investigator, with lived experience of anti-Black racism and formal training or expertise in investigating anti-Black racism, be appointed to review the conduct of the investigator Roger Beaudry of Aptus Solutions and to develop, as above, the terms, conditions, and timeline of such a review
  • The Minister of Colleges and Universities, the Hon. Ross Romano, commit the necessary resources for the aforementioned review to be conducted in a fair and timely manner and with the confidence of the community

TIMELINE

  • 2016-2020: Prof. Aimé Avolonto first raised concerns about anti-Black racism as a faculty member on Glendon campus and has spoken publicly about his experience.
  • 2020: York University Administration first attempt at firing Prof. Aimé Avolonto.
  • 2020: The original demands from the YFS came out of the All Out September 30th Campaign.
  • February 25th, 2021: “Black on campus” documentary airs on CBC’s Fifth Estate.
  • 2021: The York University administration continued attempts to fire Prof. Aimé Avolonto, after he made complaints about anti-Black racism were raised.
  • 2021: York University issues a public statement for staff and faculty of Glendon College addressing the anti-Black racism as an issue which needs “Urgent attention”. That letter is no longer accessible.
  • April 8th, 2021: Prof. Aimé Avolonto, appeared at a press conference where he revealed detailed allegations of anti-Black racism against university administrators, including President Rhonda Lenton.
  • January 31st, 2023: York's administration fired Lydia Dosu, a Black woman who has worked at the University for over 24 years after she made complaints about anti-Black racism from 2017-23.
  • April 2023: Lydia Dosu appeared at a press conference where she shared detailed allegations of anti-Black racism against York University, including acts of race-based harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
  • 2023: In the termination letter, York made the outrageous claim that Lydia Dosu represents a "health and safety risk" to other (non-Black) employees for filing complaints about anti-Black racism.
  • 2023: York based its decision on a report by an investigator who is facing allegations of anti-Black racism and discrimination at the HRTO since 2020, along with York University President Rhonda Lenton and other senior administrators. 2023 (currently): York University is facing at least eight complaints about anti-Black racism at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

 

 
Solidarity Pledge

We encourage Congress participants to make the following solidarity pledge before they present or speak at Congress this week, in recognition of the continuing struggles against anti-Black racism at York University.

The purpose of the pledge is to remind all participants that these struggles should not be treated as an abstract academic exercise or hidden from view during discussions about “reckonings” and “re-imaginings” in response to anti-Black racism or other forms of oppression at York or other postsecondary institutions.

By contrast, we commit to use the platform that Congress provides to name and amplify those struggles and to let them inform the work we do as scholars and researchers.

Before I present, I would like to acknowledge that York University remains a site of struggle against systemic anti-Black racism and anti-Indigenous racism. I recognize the work of Black and Indigenous students, staff, and faculty at York who continue to lead these struggles, including the support campaigns for Lydia Dosu and Aimé Avolonto, and I present today in solidarity with them.

For More Information Sign Up Here:

Black at York, Black on Campus:

An honest reckoning about Anti-Black Racism at York University

Thursday, June 1 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EDT

Attend in person:

York University Graduate Students’ Association First Student Centre, Room 430 York University, Keele campus 4700 Keele Street

TTC: York University | https://goo.gl/maps/icLCUptSFppwZC7n7

Attend via Zoom:

Register here: https://bit.ly/BAYZoom

Speakers:

Lydia Dosu: A 24-year employee of York University with an unresolved complaint about Anti-Black Racism, including at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), recently fired by the York administration

Prof. Aimé Avolonto: A 19-year faculty member of Glendon College with unresolved complaints about Anti-Black Racism, including four active HRTO applications, facing termination by the administration

Ron Franklin: Human rights lawyer and legal counsel to Lydia Dosu and Prof. Aimé Avolonto

Adaeze Mbalaja: Former President (2022-23), York Federation of Students; Ontario National Executive Representative, Canadian Federation of Students (2023-24)

Nathi Zamisa: Former President (2022-23), York University Graduate Students' Association

Marie Clarke Walker: Former Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress; and Representative, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

Dr. Laura Mae Lindo; ONDP Member of Provincial Parliament (Kitchener Centre); Inaugural Chair, ONDP Black Caucus; and Official Opposition Critic for Anti-Racism and Equity

Co-Chairs:

Azinwi Kien Saningong: Former President (2020-21), York Federation of Students; former Chairperson, Canadian Federation of Students (2021-22)

Fardosa Warsame: Former President (2020-21), York University Graduate Students’ Association

Organized / endorsed by:

Campaign Against Anti-Black Racism York Federation of Students York University Graduate Students’ Association

For more information, email againstantiblackracism@gmail.com.

Links:

April 5, 2023 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDEJSsNL5HY&t=4s

Campaign website: Justice for Prof. Aimé Avolonto: https://www.justice4avolonto.ca/

April 8, 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0MixtLFdwM&t=4s

April 8th, 2021 - https://www.teachingwhileblack.ca/post/letter-from-a-black-colleague

February 26, 2021 - https://fb.watch/kL0mE5GuuL/

February 25, 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1CQRi76nho