See Us, Learn Us: A New Perspective on Teaching Identity, Belonging and the Black Canadian Experience

“Despite a history in Canada dating back four centuries, Black communities are always seen as ‘non-Canadian, always other, always elsewhere, recent, unfamiliar, and impossible.’ ”

—Robyn Maynard, Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada From Slavery to the Present

Introducing a multi-session webinar series focusing on horizontal and vertical alignment within the curriculum, this series is intended to address the calls from parents of Black children, educators and leaders to move equitable and inclusive education. It continues to focus on meaningful and relevant integration of Black history, Black excellence, and the many significant contributions of Black Canadians in the curriculum. Discover more resources to learn and educate about New Perspectives on Teaching Identity, Belonging and the Black Canadian Experience below.

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Session 1: Early Black Presence in Canada

This first session in the 5-part series will focus on the importance of effectively building foundational knowledge and awareness of the Black Canadian experience and how this knowledge can help educators and leaders to better support the identity and sense of belonging of Black students and their families in education. 

• Why “See Us, Learn Us”

• The first Black man in Canada

• Enslavement in Canada

• Freedom Seekers, The Underground Railroad, and Early Black Settlements

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Key topics: Black Excellence | Unconscious Bias | Black Loyalists | The first Black Man in Canada | Slavery in Canada | Jamaicans in Nova Scotia in 1796

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Session 2: Black Canadian Communities

Many diverse Black Canadian communities emerged across Canada starting in the early 1900s and continuing to the present. This session will continue the focus on forging an identity in a new environment with emphasis on:

• Historic Black Communities

• Growth of the Caribbean Presence

• West and East African Immigration

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Key topics:  Caribbean and African Immigration to Canada | Historic Black Canadian Communities  | Unconscious Bias | Anti-Black racism | Black Excellence and Achievements

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Session 3: Anti Black Racism and Resistance

From enslavement until the present, systemic anti-Black racism has been prevalent in Canada but it has always been met with intentional acts of resistance. This collection focuses on how Black Canadians have defined belonging with an emphasis on:

• The history of anti-Black racism in Canada

• Personal anecdotes

• Acts of resistance and the Black Canadian Civil Rights Movement

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Key Topics: Dimensions of Racism | Resistance to Enslavement | Black Canadian Civil Rights | Fighting Racism

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Session 4: Black Canadian Culture

Black Canadian communities are very diverse. As a result, there is a vibrant culture comprised of elements from the many Black populations across Canada. Session four continues the dialogue concerning how Black Canadians are defining belonging with emphasis on:

• The influence of Caribbean, African and American nation languages on Black Canadian communities

• Hair Politics: cultural retention and conformity

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Key Topics: Black Culture | Hair Politics | Language and Dialect | Black Canadian Communities | Identity and Belonging

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Session 5: Black Canadian Excellence

Black Canadians have made significant contributions to Canada in ways that defy the stereotypes often portrayed in the media. Session five focuses on how Black Canadians have established identity and belonging with emphasis on:

• Excellence in Business, The Arts and Sports

• Excellence in Education; Science and Medicine; Politics and Law

• Building on the Legacy of Excellence

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Key Topics: Black Culture | Black Excellence and Achievements| Identity and Belonging | Impact of Black Excellence

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