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York University community members discuss the importance of Black inclusion in the academy

In the spring of 2020, the brutal police killings of unarmed Black people, most notably the asphyxiation death of 46-year-old George Floyd, led to civil unrest and global condemnation. In the weeks that followed, businesses and non-profit organizations the world over, including universities and governments, were called upon by protestors, Black leaders, students and academics to address anti-Black racism and white supremacy.

York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton together with Sheila Cote-Meek, vice-president of equity, people and culture (EP&C), responded to the call for action. In messages to the community issued in the Spring of 2020, they committed to a series of actions to combat anti-Black racism, including increasing the number of Black scholars, enhancing financial support for Black students, refining the community safety model, unconscious bias training, and developing an equity strategy…