Black History Month
Resources for Discussion
Below you will find a number of resources that have been compiled by faculty members within the School of Education, that cover Black History in the context of both the past and present, with diverse voices and perceptions that will help drive meaningful conversation. Resources include website links, videos, articles, books, lesson ideas and podcasts. Resources are in no particular order.
Articles
How Amanda Gorman Became the Voice of the New American Era
Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman delivers a beautiful and stunning speech at the 2021 US Presidential Inauguration.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/22/how-amanda-gorman-became-the-voice-of-a-new-american-era
How Black Lives Matter is Changing Black History Month
https://time.com/5771045/black-history-month-evolution/
Black History Month in Schools - Retire or Reboot?
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/02/black-history-monthretire-or-reboot/470124/
Books
Looking at History Through a Critical Lens
One of our own BEd grads and current PhD student, provides thoughtful and accessible curricula for incorporating Black history into a grade 7 class, and strengthening her students' critical literacy skills while they're at it.
https://etfovoice.ca/feature/looking-history-through-critical-literacy-lens
My Name is Phillis Wheatley by Afua Cooper
https://www.kidscanpress.com/product/my-name-is-phillis-wheatley/
My Name is Henry Bibb by Afua Cooper
https://www.kidscanpress.com/product/my-name-is-henry-bibb/
Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You
Adapted from the award-winning, bestselling Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again.
» Click to view Book
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
Adapted from the award-winning, bestselling Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again.
» Click to view Book
The Skin We're In by Desmond Cole
Outstanding new book by Oshawa author/journalist Desmond Cole, documenting state violence against Black Canadians.
https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-skin-we-re-in-1.5419108
Be Boy Buzz by Bell Hooks
This children's book by famed African-American author bell hooks offers a gorgeous and joyfull portrait of Black boyhood.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92815.Be_Boy_Buzz
Residential Schools
David A. Robertson. (2016) When We Were Alone. Highwater Press
Black Lives Matter
Zeta Elliot,(2020). A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Sister Outside
African American feminist Audre Lorde's theory stands up through time as accessible knowledge of how we can draw on the power of our own bodies in our work toward social liberation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Outsider
Podcasts
'Don't Call Me Resilient': A new podcast from The Conversation
Here is another excellent resource put out by The Conversation. Don't Call Me Resilient is a discussion about the need for systemic change to address the legacy of racism.
https://theconversation.com/dont-call-me-resilient-a-new-podcast-from-the-conversation-149692
Websites / Blogs / Videos
#BlackMusicMatters: Hip-Hop & Social Justice in Canada
Is a listening- and inquiry-based resource designed for teachers with students in grades 7-12.
» Click for Lesson Plans and Resources
The Queen of Basketball: When the NBA Officially Drafted a Woman
This 22 minute film follows the basketball career of Lusia Harris, one of the best players in history. It is fun, sweet, inspiring and offers an important story for Black history, women, sports fans, and really, for everyone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPFkcoTfr7g
Freedom Reads: Anti-Bias Book Talks
DC Educators and Teaching for Change offer a great selection of articles and videos to help educators bring the issues of race into their classrooms (Secondary and Elementary) Excellent resource!
https://www.dcareaeducators4socialjustice.org/black-lives-matter/resources/young-children#videos
A Look Ahead at Black History Month
https://facingtoday.facinghistory.org/a-look-ahead-at-black-history-month
Learning and Teaching Black History in Ontario
https://ontariohistoricalsociety.ca/learning-teaching-black-history-in-ontario/
Black History in Canada - Canada's History
https://www.canadashistory.ca/education/kayak-in-the-classroom/black-history/black-history-educational-package
Putting Race on the Table
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTDk7K5UVVg
Black Communities in Canada
This National Film Board site contains short documentaries in English and French dealing with current issues facing blacks in sports, modelling, forced relocation, etc. some of which are suitable for junior grades and up.
https://www.onf.ca/selections/nfb_celebrates_black_history_month/lecture/#12
Black Lives Matter at School
Great resource which looks specifically at the 13 Guiding Principals of the BLM movement, including lesson ideas.
https://www.blacklivesmatteratschool.com/
Black History Month Resources: Approaches, Identities, Histories, Legacies & Inclusion
https://facingcanada.facinghistory.org/black-history-month-resources
Teaching for Black Lives During the Rebellion
A panel discussion with black and white educators about past and present actions taken by educators to address anti-black racism in their schools/communities.
https://www.facebook.com/rethinkingschools/videos/teaching-for-black-lives-during-the-rebellion/1742942665856136/
Facing History – Canada
There are a number of resources for educators interested in bringing forgotten or silenced parts of Canada’s history to the forefront.
https://www.facinghistory.org/about-us/offices/canada
The Zinn Project
A more in depth and American version of facing history. Excellent resources for all levels.
https://www.zinnedproject.org/
365 Days and Ways to Celebrate Black Canadians
Black curriculum worksheets are available in French and English for junior and intermediate grades.
https://www.etfo.ca/SupportingMembers/Resources/pages/365.aspx
Teaching African Canadian History
https://teachingafricancanadianhistory.weebly.com/lesson-plans.html
Parents for Diversity Blog
https://parentsfordiversity.com/blog/
Dionne Brand
Prolific Black Canadian writer Dionne Brand offers beautiful and brilliant short stories, novels, memoir and theory for a broad range of audiences, centring Black Canadian identities and communities in Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionne_Brand