Latest news with #anti-Blackness
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
United Way report lays bare anti-Black barriers facing African asylum seekers in Peel and other Greater Toronto communities
In fallout from systemic anti-Black racism, African asylum seekers across the Greater Toronto Area are being shut out of rental housing, denied employment, and forced into overburdened shelters, according to a damning United Way report. The study reveals Black refugees in the GTA, including Peel Region, are disproportionately affected by discriminatory rental practices and a lack of culturally sensitive services. The qualitative study, led by United Way Greater Toronto and the Centre for Community-Based Research, interviewed 29 African asylum seekers and nine front-line service providers between June and December 2024. Participants were drawn from Peel, York Region and the city of Toronto. Across all locations, anti-Black racism emerged as the 'consistent thread' shaping every stage of settlement, from securing shelter beds to job interviews, the report says. Lack of affordable housing and employment access were identified as the two urgent barriers, regularly forcing claimants into overcrowded basements or extended stays in municipal shelters. 'So when it comes to the issues of accessing safe and stable housing — yes, this is a problem other asylum seekers face, but for (African asylum claimants) there is an extra layer of complication when it comes to the issue of racism,' said lead researcher Jean de Dieu Basabose. 'They have openly told us that some landlords are not willing to give them access to housing because of the colour of their skin.' Basabose, a Black Rwandan who came to Canada as an asylum seeker in 2018, said he was moved by the experience of speaking to the asylum claimants for the research study. It reawakened memories of his own journey — one he describes as marked by 'fear, uncertainty, hope and resilience.' As someone who experienced similar challenges to the asylum seekers they interviewed for the research, he said little has changed since he arrived in Canada. 'The same problems are still persisting. So that is something that really surprised me,' he said. Participants mentioned the racism often manifested overtly — one Peel asylum seeker reported being denied housing explicitly due to her refugee status — a rejection she attributed to racial bias. In another case — of unspecified location — a participant reported the feeling they were being exploited by landlords. One example was a renter who sublet a basement apartment to 16 African refugees at an exorbitant cost. 'So even what was accessible was not safe; many times people were taken advantage of,' said Adaoma Patterson, United Way Greater Toronto's director of community investment. The study notes these types of experiences are supported by reports from the Homeless Hub, which points out immigrants and refugees in Canada often face isolation, fear and anxiety — feelings amplified for racialized people who experience discrimination. This anti-Blackness was also noted by the service providers interviewed for the report. 'There are a wide range of challenges that (African asylum seekers) experience, but … most of it would be grounded in anti-Black racism,' said one provider quoted in the report. 'It's subtle. It's microscopic. But it's there … Outside of a Black service provider, (there's nobody) who has that insight … So, the major oppression that they face is because of their skin.' Though many asylum seekers arrive with significant qualifications, they often struggle to find employment due to a lack of Canadian experience and difficulties transferring their credentials, the report notes. Several interviewees also described overt discrimination while attempting to access employment. One participant, quoted in the study, recalled an interviewer who came right out and said 'that he cannot give any job to a Black (person) or to an African.' Research participants expressed a similar concern with front-line service providers who regularly interact with asylum seekers. 'I feel they should implement a mandatory anti-discrimination training for staff in shelters, health-care services, employment agencies,' said one asylum seeker. Beyond training, researchers found participants advocating for deeper structural changes. 'There is also a need for making the services more culturally appropriate … to the extent that some participants were recommending to establish a shelter that is led by Black people so that they may feel like they are well-supported throughout,' said Basabose. This sentiment was echoed by participants quoted in the report, who mentioned the waning effects of prolonged shelter usage. 'I think housing insecurity is a major gap in the asylum support system. Emergency shelters are overcrowded and affordable housing options are extremely limited. As a result, we sometimes spend long periods in temporary shelters that are not conducive to healing or developing a stable life,' noted one Peel-based asylum seeker in the study. 'We are also victims of discrimination in the housing market, which makes it difficult to obtain safe, stable housing, even if we are sometimes entitled to it,' they added. Peel Region has borne some of the starkest fallout from the crisis. A 2024 point-in-time count showed asylum seekers made up 37 per cent of everyone experiencing homelessness in the region , and 81 per cent of those claimants identified as Black African. Overall homelessness has climbed 223 per cent since 2021. Regional staff have since opened a 680-bed reception centre in Mississauga and hired outreach teams to deliver wraparound supports. Basabose noted some participants expressed appreciation to Peel Region. 'Because when we asked about what is working well, they indicated that in Peel, they recently increased the funding that goes into supporting the shelter system,' said Basabose. He added that service providers in Peel said they appreciated the system was generally easy to navigate. However, he said 'there is still room for improvement.' The United Way report outlines urgent reforms to address systemic barriers facing African asylum seekers, including increased funding for grassroots and larger community service organizations providing services to asylum seekers. It highlights the need for greater investment in Black-led and Black-serving organizations. It also urges Ottawa to expedite the asylum process. There are also demands for housing stabilization programs and a centralized information hub to prevent conflicting guidance across the GTA. Additionally, it advocates for mandatory anti-Black racism training for property owners and managers, prohibiting discrimination in housing access and ensuring strong prevention and enforcement mechanisms. Other measures include advocating for policy changes and legislative reforms to dismantle anti-Black racism, while promoting the effective implementation of Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy 2024-2028 . It calls for formal discrimination complaint systems and service evaluations — backed by federal and provincial governments — to ensure African asylum seekers can report mistreatment and shape service improvements. In the meantime, Patterson said United Way Greater Toronto is investing in a collaborative, Black-led initiative in Peel Region to address persistent gaps in services for African asylum seekers. The project, spearheaded by African Community Services alongside Roots Community Services and My Neighbourhood Services, will provide wraparound support, including housing assistance, legal aid, and trauma-informed counselling for up to 200 claimants. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Love Island Season USA 7: Why is BuzzFeed facing huge backlash over 'Knuckle Sandwich' post about contestant Chelley?
BuzzFeed has come under intense public scrutiny following a now-deleted Instagram post from its food-focused brand, Tasty, which was widely condemned as racist, insensitive, and anti-Black. The post, referencing Love Island USA Season 7 contestant Chelley Bissainte, ignited a wave of outrage across social media, prompting demands for accountability and a genuine apology. Controversial Post Draws Widespread Condemnation On July 9, Tasty published a light-hearted carousel of suggested breakfast meals for the Love Island USA female contestants. Each meal was curated to match the personalities or relationships of the islanders. However, Chelley's entry included a bowl of fruit, Goldfish crackers (a nod to her current partner Ace), and most controversially, a "knuckle sandwich"—portrayed graphically as a white fist between two buns. The slide, intended as satire, drew immediate criticism, with many accusing BuzzFeed of perpetuating violent stereotypes about Black women. The visual metaphor, critics said, crossed a line by making light of physical violence, particularly in the context of Chelley—a Black contestant—whose on-screen narrative has involved relationship dynamics, as mentioned in a report by BIN News. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bargain Prices on Unsold Container Houses in Camarines Norte - Check Them Out! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Buzzfeed thought it was okay to run a 'joke' about committing violence against Chelley because you bird brains ran around calling her a bully. Chelley, who has been nothing but calm, measured, and respectful all season. BW have to be silent doormats to avoid the aggressive tropes — Riley Freeman (@TrillaryBlinton) July 9, 2025 The reason my vote is always and will always be with Chelley is this—first the hate train, then brands feel open to share their out of pocket takes.. like a knuckle sandwich? That's a threat (and no, they did not do it for others)— —wtf @BuzzFeed #loveislandusa #loveisland — AJ (@averagehijabi97) July 9, 2025 Chelley's Team Slams BuzzFeed: 'Disturbing and Unacceptable' In response, Chelley's representatives issued a strongly-worded statement, accusing BuzzFeed of implicitly invoking domestic violence and reinforcing dangerous, prejudiced narratives. Live Events 'It is not only disturbing, disgusting, and unacceptable—it reflects the harsh reality that implicit biases, especially those rooted in anti-Blackness and misogyny, persist in media portrayals,' the statement read. The team underscored that such messaging is not only offensive but also potentially harmful, particularly on a platform followed by millions, including young and impressionable viewers. Swift Removal and an Attempted Clarification Following the backlash, BuzzFeed's Tasty deleted the original post and replaced it with an edited version—substituting pancakes in place of the controversial "knuckle sandwich." In the updated caption, the account acknowledged the mistake: 'One of our jokes in the original post missed the mark… While we thought the knuckle sandwich was cheeky, we understand it landed with racial tones we didn't intend (but should have anticipated).' However, this revised post was also heavily criticized for what Chelley's team described as a 'condescending tone and lack of accountability.' Shortly thereafter, Tasty removed the follow-up post entirely, further fueling debate around BuzzFeed's handling of the situation. Calls for Accountability Continue Chelley's representatives are now demanding more than just quiet deletions and half-hearted captions. They have called on BuzzFeed and Tasty to issue a public, formal apology and to take tangible steps toward accountability. 'Team Chelley will not tolerate this level of disrespect, anti-Blackness, prejudice, and misogyny,' the statement continued. 'We will not accept a narrative in which Chelley—or any person—deserves violence. That's not satire, it's dehumanizing.' The team also criticized BuzzFeed for its failure to consult sensitivity experts or exercise basic editorial judgment before publishing the post, as per the BIN News. Broader Social Media Reaction The incident has become a trending topic, with thousands of social media users voicing solidarity with Chelley. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #ProtectBlackWomen was widely used in response to the incident, with many highlighting the repeated microaggressions and racial biases that Black contestants face in reality television and mainstream media coverage. One user wrote, 'BuzzFeed knew better. They've been called out before. This wasn't a joke—they played into centuries-old racist tropes and got caught.' Another user said, 'You don't make light of domestic violence—especially not when targeting a Black woman on a public platform.' BuzzFeed's History Under Scrutiny This latest incident has also revived criticism of BuzzFeed's broader editorial practices, with some users pointing to past controversies involving racially insensitive content. Critics argue that the outlet has historically leaned on clickbait and provocation, often at the expense of marginalized groups. As of Friday morning, BuzzFeed has not issued a corporate statement addressing the issue or confirming whether any internal review has been initiated. FAQs What happened with BuzzFeed's Tasty and Chelley Bissainte? On July 9, 2025, BuzzFeed's food brand Tasty posted a carousel on Instagram suggesting 'breakfast meals' themed after Love Island USA contestants. Chelley Bissainte's meal included a 'knuckle sandwich'—represented graphically by a white fist between two buns—alongside fruit and Goldfish crackers. The post was widely condemned as racist, violent, and anti-Black, especially given Chelley's identity as a Black woman. Why was the 'knuckle sandwich' reference controversial? Critics argued that the image evoked violent stereotypes and implicitly referenced physical violence against a Black woman, framed as satire. Many viewed it as a dehumanizing trope with racial undertones that reinforced harmful narratives.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Far-left congresswoman revives ousted 'Squad' Dem's reparations push for Black Americans: 'We are awake'
A member of the House of Representatives' progressive "Squad" is reviving legislation aimed at giving reparations payments to Black Americans for slavery. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., reintroduced a resolution Thursday that, if passed, could give federal dollars to the descendants of enslaved people brought from Africa to the United States. Former Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., who lost her 2024 primary to a more moderate Democrat, introduced the reparations bill in the last Congress. Bush's bill, unveiled in May 2023, called for $14 trillion to be put toward reparations payments for descendants of slavery in the United States, but it did not go anywhere. "We say to the rest of America: If you are truly committed to justice, as you try to say you are, you cannot look away. You cannot turn your back on the demand for reparations, because until there is repair, there will be no justice. And where there is no justice, we will continue to fight. We're not going anywhere. We are awake. We are organized, and we will win. Reparations now," Bush said alongside progressive Democrat Reps. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., at Lee's announcement. House Democrat To Introduce Reparations Push, Declares 'Moral Obligation' To Send Trillions To Black Americans Pressley reintroduced a reparations bill during Black History Month this year with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., rejecting the "unprecedented onslaught against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the Trump Administration." Read On The Fox News App House Dems Reintroduce Reparations Legislation: 'We Refuse To Be Silent' "Trump's policies are nothing but anti-Blackness on steroids," Pressley said Thursday before adding, "This America wants to make America Jim Crow again, and then some." "Reparations are a necessary step towards true equity in our country, and a more just future. There is an opportunity for Congress to confront our nation's racist history of slavery and White supremacy. We must provide the descendants of enslaved Black families with the reparations they were promised," Tlaib added. It's an effort mounted by progressive Democrats every year, but one that has little chance of passing. That's especially true for the 119th Congress, which is controlled by Republicans while President Donald Trump is also in the White House. One longtime GOP lawmaker, House Science Committee Chair Brian Babin, R-Texas, even introduced legislation earlier this year to pull federal funding from state and local jurisdictions that enacted reparations policies. "We know there will be pushback," Lee said Thursday, adding, "Reparations are a proposal to level the playing field, but the only way we could ever have a level playing field is by remedying the harms that have been done by the system." But Lee signaled on Wednesday that the long odds would not deter her. "When we think about the debt that is owed through our country . . . the Trump administration and the Republican Party talks a lot about paying our debts. This is one of them," Lee told Fox News. The Pennsylvania progressive argued that the U.S. government crafted policies that intentionally disadvantaged Black Americans. "They were not theoretical, but they were harms from government policies and practices and laws. There were real laws that were on the book that caused systemic disadvantages. They created systemic advantages for other people. So you can never have equal footing until you remedy that," Lee article source: Far-left congresswoman revives ousted 'Squad' Dem's reparations push for Black Americans: 'We are awake'
Chicago Tribune
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Four Evanston/Skokie D65 School Board members join, face cutting as much as $15 million
Four new school boardmembers were sworn into the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education at Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting and will immediately face a financial crisis. The new members, Patricia Anderson, Nichole Pinkard, Maria Opdycke and Andrew Wymer, replace more than half of the outgoing board. The previous four members declined to run for re-election after a turbulent pair of years that saw the district plummet into a financial deficit. The new board will be tasked with continuing the district's deficit reduction plan to cut between $10 million and $15 million in expenses for the next school year, likely continuing cuts in jobs, school closures and district-wide expense cuts. Outgoing members Joey Hailpern, Biz Lindsay-Ryan, Soo La Kim and Donna Wang Su gave a final testimony about their time on the board, wishing the next board well and encouraging members to take on the work of an unpaid and sometimes thankless job. 'Despite the difficult years: the pandemic, the post-pandemic return to schools, the barrage of angry emails and threats — many with racist rhetoric and coded anti-Blackness— the misrepresented budget numbers and feelings of betrayal… despite all that, I don't regret having served' on the board, Kim said. 'Because despite all the resistance and heat from the community, we did also manage to do some worthwhile things: Updating the curricula, social studies, literacy, math and science — I think we touched them all — to be more rigorous, inclusive and evidence-based; reducing the racial disproportionality in discipline, expanding social, emotional supports, closing the opportunity gap in our early childhood programs, committing to sustainability goals, supporting translation services throughout the district and expanding dual language to middle schools, and of course, returning a school to the 5th Ward,' she said. Lindsay-Ryan, who served on the board for 11 years, thanked the district's staff and her family for their support during her tenure on the board of education. 'We are navigating a world that wants to challenge so much of what we as a community hold dear. The level of external threat to the fundamentals of education is staggering, and the threat has been weaponized to attempt to stop us from caring for our most vulnerable,' Lindsay-Ryan said. 'We see educational institutions abandoning their values and in the process their constituents in an effort to mitigate the financial repercussions of having essential funding, only to have it withdrawn anyway. I urge our community and our next board to remain steadfast in its commitment to all out student success, to maintain an inclusive and safe environment where all students can thrive, and ensure that we prepare them to be global citizens that understand the realities of power, oppression and justice and how to engage in a world around them in ways that make everyone safe, respected, valued and included,' she said. In the week prior to the new board, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would investigate a complaint of alleged racial discrimination filed on behalf of a white elementary school drama teacher, who alleged the district used educational materials containing social justice advocacy to discriminate against white employees and students, among other things. Superintendent Angel Turner thanked the outgoing board members for their service to the board. 'Serving on the School Board is no small task. It requires time, thoughtfulness and a deep commitment to public service. Over the past several years this board has grappled with very complex and often difficult issues that have had a real impact on our students, our staff and families,' Turner said. 'Through it all, they have shown courage, compassion and a steadfast focus on what they believe is best for our children.' Board president prevails after challenge Board members Sergio Hernandez, Omar Salem and Mya Wilkins, who were not up for election this year, remain on the school board. Hernandez, the previous school board president, nominated himself to remain the board's president. 'I want to directly acknowledge that the past two years have presented some significant challenges, some of which I could have navigated better,' Hernandez said before a vote was called. 'Communication, both within our board and with the broader community, has not always met the standard our constituents deserve. I take full ownership and it is not fair to expect new board members to carry the weight of these complexities without clear leadership and structure.' 'I commit to making communication a top priority moving forward, ' he said. Salem nominated himself as a the board's president too. 'I really want to kind of be this bridge here… having been on the board for two years, we have four new folks coming on, and I really just want to kind of balance the way we've done things while also making sure we have some opportunity for change. I think the community has made it clear we need some change,' Salem said. 'My goal really is just to ensure that every single board member has the opportunity to be heard internally within our board, but also externally within the community.' In a 4-3 vote, Wilkins, Hernandez, Pinkard and Wymard voted for Hernandez to be the board's president. Pinkard was voted unanimously as the board's vice president, running unopposed. 'As we transition into a new era of leadership, District 65 faces significant challenges and opportunities to rebuild trust across our community. I believe that strong strategic and collaborative board leadership is essential to supporting the superintendent and advancing our mission of opportunity, equity and excellence for all students,' Pinkard said.
Buzz Feed
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
John Legend On Kanye West's Downfall
If you watch a Kanye West live performance from the early 2000s, it's possible that you might spot a young John Legend somewhere in the background. Yep, long before he was the EGOT winner he is today, John got his big break thanks to his close ties to Kanye, serving as his backing singer and keyboard player. For many years, John and Kanye were incredibly close, both professionally and personally, as were their wives, Kim Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen. However, around the time Kanye first publicly endorsed Donald Trump in 2016, it seems a rift began to form between the two artists. In 2018, Kanye memorably shared a screenshot of a text exchange between himself and John where the All Of Me singer was encouraging him to 'reconsider aligning' himself with Trump. 'You're way too powerful and influential to endorse who he is and what he stands for…So many people who love you feel so betrayed right now because they know the harm that Trump's policies cause, especially to people of color,' one of John's messages read. 'Don't let this be part of your legacy.' At the time, Kanye said he shared the private texts online 'to show that there are people around [him] that disagree with [him] and voice their opinion.' As we know, Kanye's problematic behavior only got worse over the years, resulting in his divorce from Kim in early 2021. Since then, the rapper's vitriolic hate speech online has rightfully left his reputation in ruins. Now, commenting on his former collaborator's public downfall during a new interview with the UK Times, John considered the drastic changes in Kanye's personality since they first met as budding artists. 'Back then Kanye was very passionate, very gifted, and he had big dreams not only for himself but also for all the people around him. He had so much optimism, so much creativity,' he said. 'I didn't see a hint of what we're seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-Blackness, and it is sad to see his devolution.' The Oscar-winning artist also acknowledged how his proximity to Kanye in the early 2000s took his career to the next level after being 'turned down by labels everywhere.' 'Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z's album The Blueprint in 2001,' he said. 'Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist and the whole time I was traveling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player, but also as an artist myself. Then The College Dropout sold 400,000 copies in its first week, everyone wanted to know what was happening in our camp.' He added: 'All those people who turned me down suddenly decided that my music sounded a lot better than it did the first time round.' It's no secret that Kanye was deeply impacted by the death of his mother, Donda West, in November 2007. Notably, John weighed in on the widely theorized belief that 'there was definitely a difference' in Kanye from that point onwards in terms of his problematic behavior. 'His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently,' he said.
