Akua Benjamin
Akua Benjamin is a Canadian scholar and social worker at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is notable for defining the term anti-Black racism.
Career
[edit]Benjamin was born in Trinidad, and migrated to Canada in 1969.[1][2]
She began teaching at Toronto Metropolitan University, then called Ryerson University, in 1988.[3] She is a Professor Emeritus and is the former Director of TMU’s School of Social Work, serving in the position from its creation in 2003 to 2008.[3][2]
Benjamin defined the term anti-Black racism.[4][5][6][7][8]
She co-founded the Anti-Black Racism Network, which raised awareness of racial profiling.[9][10]
Recognition
[edit]In 2005, Benjamin was one of 1000 women elected for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of PeaceWomen Across the Globe.[1] In the same year, she was awarded the Inspirational Leader Award by the Ontario Association of Social Workers in 2005.[3]
In 2016, Benjamin was an honoree into 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women, being featured in their 2016 book.[10][11]
In 2025, Benjamin was depicted in a Toronto Transit Commission bus with artwork by Shannia Lewis.[12]
She is the namesake of the Akua Benjamin Legacy Project, which was established in 2016 by the Toronto Metropolitan University.[13][14] In its inaugural year, the project released films highlighting six Black Canadian figures in history.[14][15] The people depicted were Rosie Douglas, Dudley Laws, Charles Roach, Marlene Green, and wife and husband duo Gwen and Lenny Johnson.[15]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Akua Benjamin". PeaceWomen Across the Globe. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
- 1 2 "Blacks have led anti-racism fight in this city". Ron Fanfair. 2017-01-15. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
- 1 2 3 "Akua Benjamin". Ontario Association of Social Workers.
- ↑ Udah, Hyacinth (2023-03-04). "Anti-black racism and othering: an exploration of the lived experience of black Africans who live in Australia". Social Identities. 29 (2): 185–204. doi:10.1080/13504630.2023.2208056. ISSN 1350-4630.
- ↑ "ANTI-BLACK RACISM". Black Health Alliance. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
- ↑ Lopez, Ann E. (2020), "Anti-Black Racism in Education: School Leaders' Journey of Resistance and Hope", Handbook on Promoting Social Justice in Education, Springer, Cham, pp. 1935–1950, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-14625-2_37, ISBN 978-3-030-14625-2, retrieved 2026-07-19
- ↑ "Confronting Anti-Black Racism". Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
- ↑ "REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ANTI-BLACK RACISM TASK FORCE" (PDF). University of Toronto. p. 13.
- ↑ Goldsbie, Jonathan (2015-05-13). "Police carding: racist, anti-black, and useless - NOW Magazine". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- 1 2 "Akua Benjamin | 100ABCWomen". 100 ABC Women. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
- ↑ "100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women: The Book". institutionaldiversityblog.com. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
- ↑ Banfield, Devon (2025-02-05). "TTC showcasing artwork honouring Black community leaders for Black History Month". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
- ↑ "Toronto filmmakers pay tribute to six black activists in film series". CBC News. 2016-02-18.
- 1 2 "Black Studies". Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- 1 2 "Akua Benjamin Legacy Project". OYA Media Group. Retrieved 2026-07-13.