York University Professor Carl James first came to Canada from the Caribbean as part of a post-1967 immigration wave triggered by the removal of race-based restrictions.
From almost the moment he arrived, James became involved with organizations like the Caribbean Alliance Council, the Black Education Project, and the Harriet Tubman Centre, which still operates in Toronto, near Don Mills subway. He’s spent four decades working on issues of Black life, particularly in regard to youth pursuing education in their new country.
Carl James has earned the ability to impact wider conversations on equity issues. He’s been effective at doing so as a professor at York University’s Faculty of Education, where he holds the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community, and Diaspora. James’ 2017 report “Towards Race Equity in Education” contributed significantly to the decision to abolish “streaming” for students entering grade 9 in the province of Ontario.
The streaming system asks students to choose the pursuit of an “academic” or “applied track” as they enter high school. James’ report found that Black teens in the Greater Toronto Area were being streamed into applied course tracks at significantly higher rates than other students. There were also significant effects on graduation rates and the chances of going to a post-secondary institution.
Ontario remains one of the few places in Canada that has continued to separate students into hands-on or academic streams in high school. But beginning in September 2022, that system has changed slightly, allowing all Grade 9 students to be offered subjects in one stream, including science, English, geography and French as a second language. While the practice has ended for Grade 9 students, the streaming system continues for students as they enter Grade 10.
“Our government has continuously taken action to remove barriers for all students, including racialized children in Ontario,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “We will continue to take action to lift up all students, with an ambitious plan to support better pathways to the skilled trades, post-secondary, and good-paying jobs.”
For Professor Carl James, this policy change was one of the highlights of his long career as a community activist. During his formative years, he mentored Black youth and grappled with the challenges they faced, particularly in education. His experiences in Toronto’s Regent Park, Canada’s oldest and largest public housing project, helped fuel his research interests at York University, focusing on the systemic barriers Black immigrant students encounter in the education system. As the same results kept occurring, he pointed out, there needs to be an openness to changing the methods.
Today, in his role as Chair at York University, Professor James continues to engage in community-oriented projects, including campus programs like Securing Black Futures, and writing influential books such as Seeing Ourselves: Exploring Race, Ethnicity and Identity. His work extends beyond academia, with frequent contributions to public discussions on issues like diversity, education reform, and community engagement.
Professor James believes strongly in the importance of community and collective action in addressing systemic challenges. His work continues to explore the intersections of education, community, and social equity, looking for chances to increase opportunities and effect tangible change through his research and advocacy.
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