Every February, people in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the history of Black Canadians; to learn about the legacy of Black Canadians and their contributions to their communities, and the strong and diverse nation Canada has become.
Unfortunately, it is also a stark reminder that food insecurity in Canada is closely tied to systemic racism and is the highest among Black households, who—prior to the pandemic—made up 30% of people experiencing hunger. Our Who’s Hungry 2021 report also noted that “[i]n the past year, Black people experienced higher levels of unemployment (13.1%) compared to white people (7.7%). They were also more likely to work in low-wage, frontline, and essential work during the pandemic.”
As we work to end food insecurity and rebuild a more just and inclusive city, we must look to transform our institutions through anti-racism and anti-oppression practices. This includes the reallocation of resources to community-centred responses and networks, particularly within Black communities.
Explore below to find a few book recommendations, people and organizations to follow on social media, recipes, and resources/courses, curated by our Black Employee Peer Support Group.
Books
- The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole
- Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon
- Any Known Blood by Lawrence Hill
Recipes
- Jambalaya
- Jollof Rice
- Curry Goat – Recipe from O’mar Grant, Assistant Manager, Kitchen Production at Daily Bread!
Resources/Courses
- Daily Bread Blog Post: The Link Between Race, Mental Health, and food Insecurity
- Unconscious Bias by Stacey Gordon
- Confronting Bias: Thriving Across our Differences by Verna Myers and Arianna Huffington
- The Black Experience Project
People and organizations to follow