Abstract
This commentary addresses the high homicide rates among young Black men in Toronto, Ontario. It posits that homicide among this population is an unrecognized major public health crisis that should be a priority for the field. The author suggests that the dramatic rate of Black homicides in Toronto is a consequence of income inequality, poverty, poor quality of life, mental health risks, and sustained racism. The commentary calls upon public health scientists to prioritize research about violence and homicide among young Black men in Toronto. It suggests that current and future policy making would be better served by their enquiries into the nature and causes of the persisting dilemma.
Key words: Homicide, race relations, violence
Résumé
Notre commentaire porte sur les taux élevés d’homicides chez les jeunes hommes noirs à Toronto (Ontario). Nous posons que les homicides dans cette population sont une crise de santé publique majeure non reconnue qui devrait être abordée en priorité. Nous pensons que le taux vertigineux d’homicide dans la population noire de Toronto est la conséquence de l’inégalité des revenus, de la pauvreté, de la mauvaise qualité de vie, des risques pour la santé mentale et du racisme qui perdure. Nous invitons les scientifiques en santé publique à accorder la priorité à la recherche sur la violence et les homicides chez les jeunes hommes noirs à Toronto. La formulation des politiques actuelles et futures serait mieux servie par des enquêtes sur la nature et les causes de ce dilemme persistant.
Mots clés: homicide, relations interraciales, violence
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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