April 1, 2025
*This article, written by Joy Adebayo-Oyetoro on behalf of Moyo Health & Community Services, explores the lasting impact of slavery, racism, and the erasure of Black excellence in Canada. Through the lens of a Black queer intersectional feminist who immigrated from Nigeria, the piece highlights how generational trauma manifests in systemic inequalities, particularly in healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Challenging the notion that progress is enough, the article calls for justice, accountability, and meaningful action to uplift Black communities.
“It may be better now, but better is not enough.”
For many African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) newcomers to Canada, arriving in a country that promises diversity and inclusion can be a moment of hope. Yet, as they navigate daily life, many experience a stark disillusionment. Instead of the equitable opportunities they envisioned, they encounter systemic barriers, discrimination in employment, healthcare disparities, and the erasure of Black contributions from mainstream narratives. The trauma of racism may look different from what they faced in their home countries, but its weight is just as heavy. The history of anti-Blackness in Canada has shaped the present, ensuring that Black communities continue to struggle against institutionalized oppression.
The Lingering Effects of Slavery in Canada
Canada often distances itself from its involvement in slavery, portraying itself as the safe haven of the Underground Railroad. But this narrative erases the fact that slavery existed here for over 200 years. Enslaved Black people were property, traded and exploited to build the economic foundations of this nation. The trauma of this dehumanization didn’t end with abolition; it transformed into segregation, exclusion from land ownership, and systemic barriers that persist today.
The denial of this history means Black Canadians continue to fight for recognition and reparative justice. From the destruction of Africville in Nova Scotia to the ongoing displacement of Black communities in Toronto’s Little Jamaica due to gentrification, Canada has consistently erased Black presence and prosperity. The trauma isn’t just historical, it’s inherited and reinforced by present-day policies that disadvantage Black people in employment, healthcare, and education.
Racism and Its Health Impacts: The HIV/AIDS Crisis in Black Communities
At Moyo Health & Community Services, we see firsthand how racism directly affects health outcomes. ACB communities are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS, yet healthcare systems remain inaccessible and riddled with anti-Black bias. Medical professionals often dismiss Black pain, and public health responses fail to address the root causes of these disparities which include poverty, stigma, and systemic discrimination.
Anti-Black racism contributes to high levels of stress, which impacts mental health and increases vulnerability to chronic illnesses. Studies show that ACB communities experience worse health outcomes compared to their white counterparts, not because of genetics, but because of the stress of navigating a racist society. This is generational trauma manifesting in real time.
Erasure of Black Excellence: A Deliberate Act
The contributions of Black people to Canada’s social, political, and economic fabric have been consistently erased or diminished. Black excellence is often framed as an exception rather than a norm. Black innovators, scholars, and leaders are missing from mainstream Canadian history, reinforcing the false narrative that Black people have contributed little to the country’s development.
Take Viola Desmond, a civil rights pioneer who challenged segregation in Nova Scotia, her story was largely untold until she was made the face of the $10 bill. Or consider the near-total erasure of Black Canadian soldiers who fought in both World Wars but were denied recognition and benefits. The exclusion of Black history from school curriculums perpetuates the cycle of ignorance, leaving younger generations disconnected from their roots and unaware of their ancestors' resilience.
The Way Forward: Acknowledgment, Action, and Accountability
Progress alone isn’t enough, we need justice. We need policies that don’t just promise diversity but actively dismantle systemic barriers. We need a healthcare system that understands the unique struggles of Black people, an education system that amplifies Black voices, and workplaces that don’t just “include” us but empower us.
Reparations, land restitution, and economic programs that uplift Black communities must be prioritized and everyone must continue advocating for Black health, not just in terms of HIV/AIDS prevention but in addressing the structural inequities that put Black lives at risk in the first place.
We carry the trauma of our ancestors, but we also carry their dreams. “Better” is not enough. We demand justice, equity, and a future where Black excellence is not erased but celebrated.
Take Action:
The past informs the present, but it does not have to dictate the future. It’s time to break the cycle.
0_Black-Canadian-National-Survey-Interim-Report-2021.2-1.pdf
CRRF_BIC_FactSheet_EN_2023-FINAL-2.pdf
Key Health Inequalities in Canada: A National Portrait – Executive Summary - Canada.ca
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