Research summary
Anti-Black racism affects the lives of Black people due to ongoing systemic bias, stereotypes and deficit thinking. This creates barriers to education, employment and housing in Black communities. It also negatively affects their health and well-being. For Black queer and trans people in Canada, racism, homophobia and transphobia intersect to exacerbate health-care avoidance. As Canada Research Chair in Black Health Studies: Antiracism in Health Education and Practice, Dr. OmiSoore Dryden seeks to understand current practices and challenges in health-care systems that serve diverse Black and Black 2SLGBTQIA+ populations and communities in Canada and around the world.
She and her research team are developing approaches for the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary intersections of Black Studies and confronting the interlocking conditions of anti-Black racism in health-care research. Ultimately, their research will help health care professionals and decision-makers to support the health of diverse Black and Black 2SLGBTQIA+ communities by informing practice and influencing policy.