This month we will be using this resource created by our students and teachers to celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians, to engage in transformative discussions and to bring awareness to the systemic barriers that marginalize BIPOC members of our community. These conversations will continue after Black History Month and will allow us to grow, learn and work for positive change, as a school community.
“February is Black History Month. It is a time for Canadians to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation it is today. It is also an opportunity to recognize historic and present forms of anti-Black racism in Ontario and challenge negative stereotypes and systems of oppression”
(from YCDSB Black History Month Resource)
We have curated thoughtful resources and activities to invite the students at Cardinal Carter CHS to understand what it means to challenge our own stereotypes and become better allies. Our theme is Sharing our Story: Representation, Identity and Equity and we have divided up the month into sub themes:
Week 1 → Allyship
Week 2 → Being Black in the GTA
Week 3 → Culture
Week 4 → Beyond February 365 Days
Each day students and teachers will be invited to explore resources, videos, and/or activities. Our final week will culminate in a panel discussion and presentation by Dwayne Morgan which will challenge us to think about how we can make anti-black racism a 365 day habit.
Here is the introductory video:
View the resource here.