Black people have been in Canada for generations, and our numbers having been growing rapidly, especially during these last few years. There are Black students attending the various schools within the school district of SD73. However, we have yet to be truly welcomed into educational spaces. We spend our time in school learning and fixating on the experiences of White Canadians, without ever learning about ourselves. Naturally, this suggests our curriculum does not consider Black experiences as important contributions to education. In addition, this reinforces prejudiced mindsets and behaviours in our White peers and teaches them that they are to be valued over Black students. We are calling for district SD73 to be a space that welcomes and celebrates Black students and a place that teaches others to do the same. Our childhoods and youth are crucial in determining the kind of people we grow up to be and the impact we will have on our society. Education has the power to ensure we devote our futures to making Canada a home for everyone. Here’s how that power can be manifested:

Incorporation of Black authors/artists/actors in school resources

-Involvement of media produced by Black people about Black people

-Incorporation of Black media that centers not only around anti-Black racism, but also cultural and social aspects of Black lives 

Anti-racism and inclusion education in schools mandate as the standard 

-Acknowledgement of the existence of both implicit/subtle and explicit racism and how they impact Black Canadians daily

Involve Black history in social studies classes

-Teaching of historical Black Canadian figures and the general contribution that Black people have made to Canada throughout history 

-In curriculum where world history is taught, involvement of African history alongside European and Asian history 

-Study of the history of racism in Canada and the positive and negative aspects of Canada’s relation to the history of racism and slavery in the US

Discuss how racism is a systemic issue 

-Replace teachings that Canada is multicultural and post-racial with teachings of the daily experiences with racism that Black people encounter in the workplace, places of education, from the law, and in other situations

-Prioritize discussions of racism based on materials and sources written BY BLACK PEOPLE speaking on their own experiences to provide more accurate descriptions and to avoid silencing Black voices as non-Black voices do not have the experience or understanding to portray their own perspective on anti-Black racism