RNAO celebrates Black History Month

Each February, in recognition of Black History Month, RNAO proudly celebrates the achievements, leadership and contributions of Black nurses. This is also a time to reflect on the conditions in which Black nurses live and work, and on the systemic forces that continue to produce racial and other forms of inequities in health care, education, and society more broadly. Black History Month calls on us not only to honour the past, but to act decisively in the present.

This reflection takes place against a deeply concerning backdrop south of the border. In the United States, racist and white supremacist movements are increasingly visible and emboldened. Equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives are not only under attack, but in some jurisdictions have been dismantled or criminalized outright. Affirmative action has been reversed, protections for racialized and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities have been rolled back, and state violence is displayed with disturbing regularity through the killing and maiming of Black people and others, including RN Alex Pretti, with disproportionate impacts on racialized communities. These developments reflect a broader erosion of democratic norms and a normalization of racial injustice that demands clear and principled opposition.

Canada is not immune to these dynamics. Our country is experiencing a rise in anti-Black racism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and hate-based rhetoric, amplified through social media echo chambers that normalize white supremacy and male chauvinism. Certain political leaders and commentators increasingly target immigrants and racialized communities – particularly people of colour – for political gain. These forces shape public discourse, influence policy decisions, and directly affect the safety, dignity, and well-being of Black nurses, Black patients, and Black communities across Canada.

Addressing anti-Black racism requires an explicit commitment to intersectionality. Racism does not operate in isolation. Racism intersects with class, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, and other forms of structural inequality. Black women experience racism that is deeply gendered and shaped by stereotypes that undermine their authority and expertise. Black transgender and gender-diverse people face uniquely severe forms of discrimination and violence. Efforts to eliminate anti-Black racism in nursing must be attentive to these intersecting realities, or they will fail to protect those who are most vulnerable.

RNAO’s commitment to intersectionality is reflected in its collaborative spaces at RNAO’s Home Office, including the Black Health, Indigenous Health, and 2SLGBTQI+ spaces. These spaces recognize that inequities in nursing practice, education, leadership, and health outcomes are produced through intersecting systems of racism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of structural oppression. By fostering shared analysis, leadership development, and collective action, RNAO strengthens its capacity to address anti-Black racism while informing future equity-focused Best Practice Guidelines and advancing dignity, safety, and belonging.

Against this backdrop, Feb. 26, 2026, marks an historic milestone for nursing in Ontario and beyond. On this date, RNAO will release Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Nursing, a groundbreaking best practice guideline co-chaired by Dr. Bukola Salami and Dr. LaRon Nelson. This evidence-based resource was developed by an 18-member expert panel of Black nurses and Black nursing students. It is designed to all support nurses, health-care organizations, educators, and policymakers in identifying, preventing, and eradicating anti-Black racism within nursing practice, education, and leadership. The guideline reflects RNAO’s steadfast commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to amplifying the voices of Black nurses and Black nursing students.

The Black Nurses Leading Change (BNLC) Interest Group continues to thrive under the leadership of its chair, Lori Zozzolotto. Together, BNLC and RNAO are advancing the recommendations of the Black Nurses Task Force Report, sustaining momentum toward system-level change.

As part of Black History Month 2026, BNLC will host a dynamic in-person webinar themed “Resilience”. The event will honour the historical and contemporary experiences of Black nurses, recognizing the resilience required to overcome segregation and to confront racial discrimination that persists in many health-care settings. It will also mark the release of a newly developed video produced jointly by BNLC and RNAO, to be launched at the RNAO home office on Feb. 28, 2026. Featured speakers include Dr. Bukola Salami, Dr. Josephine Etowa and Dr. Stephanie Buchanan.

In late 2024, RNAO’s Health Equity Consortium – a joint effort of BNLC, the Indigenous Nurses and Allies Interest Group, and the Rainbow Nursing Interest Group – published an article in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Research titled Health Equity Consortium: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQIA+ Nurses. The consortium was formed to illuminate lived experiences of discrimination and to advance collective, evidence-informed responses. Future work includes equity-focused mentorship initiatives and the development of additional Best Practice Guidelines.

This work is also reflected on RNAO’s In Focus web pages, which outline RNAO’s ongoing commitment to dismantling systemic racism and all forms of discrimination.

If you are interested in becoming a member of BNLC, please visit MyRNAO.ca. Follow BNLC on X (formerly Twitter) for updates on its activities and events. Join us in honouring Black History Month by sharing messages with the hashtag #BlackHistoryMonth and tagging @RNAO.