 “The root cause of [racial discrimination] is ignorance. People act this way because they don’t know any better and education will bring them out of this. And the law will force the people to educate them because the law will have a penalty attached to it if they break the law and they’ll have to suffer a penalty, so they’ll be prepared by being educated, not to discriminate.” - Rev. Emerson Andrew Talbot (Queen Street Baptist Church, Dresden), Dresden Story, 1954 On July 11 1936, African Canadian Fred Christie was refused service at the York Tavern in the Forum in Montreal after watching a Canadiens hockey game with friends. Christie sued and won in provincial court. Christie was awarded $25 and the tavern was ordered to pay his court costs. However, the tavern owners successfully appealed. Determined, Christie took his case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. They dismissed his case, arguing that private businesses and discriminate based on race. The high court did not see that denying service to a person because of their race was "contrary to good morals or public order." Fred Christie’s brave stance ushered in another chapter in the freedom movement of African Canadians. Hugh Burnett also entered the battle against racial discrimination during the month of July. In July 1943, Burnett, who just returned from serving in Europe, wrote a letter to federal Justice Minister Louis St. Laurent to complain that he was denied service at a Dresden, Ontario restaurant while donning his military uniform. St. Laurent replied that racial discrimination was not against the law in Canada. Burnett began his participation in a growing movement to push for this legislative change. Members of the National Unity Association (which included Hugh Burnett), Bromley Armstrong, and many Black Canadians along with other human rights activists such as Ruth Lor Malloy, used Dresden as the "battleground" in the fight for human rights legislation. Success finally came with the enactment of the Fair Accommodation Practices Act passed on April 6th, 1954. The 60th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Accommodation Practices Act passed three months ago without acknowledgement by the government at any level, an article in the press, or coverage in the news. Armstrong has justly received personal accolades including the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. Hugh Burnett and his organization, the National Unity Association, received a plaque four years ago, but that is the only public memorial for people who played a pivotal role in turning the tide in the struggle against racial discrimination. The Kielburger brothers pointed out the glaring absence of their names on a list of influential Canadians in a recently published article, Why Are There Mostly White Males on the Canadian Heroes List? The existence of the Fair Accommodation Practices Act, Human Rights Codes, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the immigration points system, are due in no small part to the efforts of Black activists who pressed and agitated for equality and human rights. How can citizens call for a social justice agenda when we continue to deny the reality of the fight against racial injustice in our own society? We could learn something from our neighbours to the south who bring their history, however tainted, to the fore, acknowledge their past, and honour the work of civil rights activists. In the United States, to mark the Freedom Summer and the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Acts, there were documentaries and discussions on public and private television networks, educational organizations made it a point to increase public awareness through youth forum, workshops, and learning resources. Archives digitized and made public images and documents. President Obama saw fit to address this civil rights milestone at least one speech. It is important for students in Canadian classrooms to learn about the historic inequalities experienced by African Canadians and their legacies that remain with us today. The stories of the men, women, and groups involved in the human rights movement and who served as agents of change should be taught. The present-day implications and unfinished business of the Canadian journey toward equality need to be part of the exploration of civic engagement and social justice. As part of my commitment to bringing this information into the classroom, I have been working with Turner Consulting Group to develop a curriculum resource, “Black in Canadian Human Rights and Equity History.” These lesson plans and other resources for teachers will be launched in September 2014. It is our hope that elementary and secondary school teachers will be encouraged to use these learning materials to teach students about Canada’s human rights movement and motivate young people to continue the fight against racism in its many manifestations. Hopefully when then next set of anniversaries roll around, these front line activists will get the respect and public memorialization they rightly deserve. 
Hugh Burnett
 Fort Mississauga “I further Certify that the Said Richard Pierpoint, better known by the name of Captain Dick, was the first colored [man] who proposed to raise a Corps of Men of Color on the Niagara Frontier, in the last American War; and that he served in the said corps during the War, and that he is a faithful and deserving old Negro.”
– Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Coffin, Adjutant General’s office, York, July 21, 1821 In 2014, there has been a lot of hoopla about the many war commemorations that will be recognized this year – the 100th anniversary of WW1 and the 75th anniversary of WW2. The 2-year long Bicentennial commemorations of the War of 1812, which began in 2012, also continue. War of 1812 enthusiasts and historians are set to mark the 200th anniversary of Battle of Lundy’s Lane on July 25th and as it approaches, I am called to reflect on the fact that there is very little public knowledge about the involvement of African Canadians in the War of 1812. Its omission from teacher resources, and consequently from our classrooms, is a contributing factor. Three months ago, I picked up a new book in a school library that was released in 2013. There was not one mention or image in reference to Black men fighting in the War of 1812 in defense of the British colony now called Canada. In a 2012 article, a parent shared that a teacher told his child that the information in his presentation was incorrect, because Blacks did not fight in the War of 1812. When a three-episode documentary commemorating the 200th anniversary of this North American conflict aired on public television, I watched disappointed in the glaring omission after its three-week run. The Battle of Lundy’s Lane on July 25th 1814, was one of the bloodiest and most important engagements fought and upwards of 80 Black men were there. Richard Pierpoint and his all-Black militia unit, the Coloured Corps, the Black soldiers of New Brunswick’s 104th Regiment, and the Black men enlisted in other militias or regiments, helped to make the Battle of Lundy’s Lane a British victory. The Bicentennial of the War of 1812 provides a timely opportunity to learn about the men of African descent in Upper Canada, Lower Canada, and the Maritimes who risked their lives defending British interests in North America (many for the second time). They were willing to die for freedom in their roles and contributions as soldiers, sailors, and construction workers. Furthermore, until now, the war’s impact on their wives and children was not even considered. Their wives and children were subject to extreme hardships, loss of property, displacement, and food insecurity, like others in the civilian population. And so for me, this is one of the “battlefronts” in my effort to disseminate this historical information to young people in Ontario classrooms as to date, there is not one specific learning expectation on the African Canadian experience in the curriculum, despite a presence that dates back at least to 1604. I am grateful to have been part of two projects that ensure that their stories are never forgotten. As the Education Director with the Harriet Tubman Institute at York University, I was part of an incredible team dedicated to contributing brand new research on Black participation in the War of 1812 through the creation Augmented Reality digital stories. I developed the learning materials for this research to make its way into classrooms. We Stand on Guard for Thee: Teaching and Learning the African Canadian Experience in the War of 1812 (*MARKER REQUIRED) As a consultant for Historica, I provided historical advice for the Richard Pierpoint Heritage Minute and developed the supporting learning resources. This initiative provides a visual representation that is sorely lacking in the Canadian perspective of the war. Richard Pierpoint Heritage Minute and Teaching Resources Heritage Minute Learning Tool Supplement Learning Tool Resources These resources contextualize the experiences of African Canadians during the war, which is essential to critical historical thinking. Questions related to Black participation in the War of 1812 that can help to establish context and guide inquiry-based learning include: - Who were the men that fought? - What challenges did they face? (e.g. segregated service, injury) - Why did Black men, formerly enslaved and free, fight? - How did they contribute to the war? - What were their lives like after the war? - Where are their descendants today? We Stand on Guard for Thee and the Richard Pierpoint Heritage Minute share a range of primary documents that can be used in the history classroom to explore these questions and embed the content in the inquiry process. Both projects also recognize and celebrate the fortitude of African Canadians during the early 1800s. Practices of remembrance such as the bicentenary of the War of 1812 that include the African Canadian narrative can help to reduce the alienation experienced by students of African descent. For students of African origin, seeing themselves in the curriculum can assist in the exploration and formation of a group identity while nurturing personal investigations of self-definition. They can rightly and proudly locate Blacks on the Canadian landscape, linking the past to the present. Additionally, it can work to address the effects of systemic exclusion by increasing student engagement through inquiry. The legacy of their military service and settlement needs to be taught in schools to increase public knowledge, to broaden the Canadian historical narrative, and to diversify the image of who early Canadians were. I honour their memory by writing them into Canadian history to educate generations to come. Additional Resources: A Stolen Life: Searching for Richard Pierpoint by Peter Meyler and David Meyler, Natural Heritage Books, 1999. To Stand and Fight Together: Richard Pierpoint and the Coloured Corps of Upper Canada by Steve Pitt, Dundurn, 2008. Fountain Thurman: Black Freedom Fighter Referenced: Education Director Natasha Henry on Black Loyalists in the War of 1812 Battle of Lundy’s Lane “Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.” ― Brian Tracy
As another academic year winds down and thoughts turn towards the summer, time away from the classroom is a great opportunity to grow and learn in your teaching practice. Some of the professional development that can be undertaken over the summer is personal reading and research. I thought I’d share some suggested resources to help in planning a SSHG curriculum that is more inclusive of the diverse African Canadian perspective for the upcoming school year. As I discussed in my last blog post, training is integral to advancing the inclusion of the Black Canadian experience and self-training can lead you on your way to gaining more background information, locating credible teaching resources, and identifying any questions you may have to pursue later through other avenues, such as workshops. These recommended resources can be purchased, but they are also available at public libraries and may even be available in the professional library of your school board. I have more extensive lists under my Resources page, which I will be adding to regularly over the summer. BOOKS TO READ: Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada by Natasha Henry, Dundurn Press, 2010. Ontario's African-Canadian heritage: collected writings by Fred Landon, 1918-1967, edited by Karolyn Smardz Frost, Bryan Walls, Hilary Bates Neary, and Frederick H. Armstrong, Natural Heritage Books, 2009. Towards Freedom: the African Canadian Experience, by Ken Alexander and Avis Glaze, Umbrella Press, 1996. The Freedom Seekers: Blacks in Early Canada by Daniel G. Hill, Irwin Publishing Inc. 1981. A History of Blacks in Canada: A Study Guide for Teachers and Students by James W. St. G. Walker, Minister of State Multiculturalism, 1980. Racial Discrimination in Canada: The Black Experience by James W. St. G. Walker, the Canadian Historical Association, 1985. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/008004/f2/H-41_en.pdf African Canadians by James W. St. G. Walker http://www.multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/a16 I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad by Karolyn Smardz-Frost, Thomas Allen Publishers, 2006. The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, HarperCollins Publisher, 2007. VIDEOS TO WATCH: Speakers for the Dead by Jennifer Holness and David Sutherland, National Film Board, 2000. https://www.nfb.ca/film/speakers-for-the-dead Hymn to Freedom (4 part documentary series), by Almeta Speaks, TeleFilm, 1994. (Available on Learn 360) Journey to Justice by Roger McTair, National Film Board of Canada, 2000. https://www.nfb.ca/film/journey_to_justice The Road Taken by Selwyn Jacobs, Selwyn Enterprises and the National Film Board 1996. https://www.nfb.ca/film/road_taken Canada: A Peoples History: The Great Enterprise 1850-1867. (Available on Learn 360) Canada: A People’s History: Years of Hope and Anger - 1964 to 1976, Episode 16 (18:10 - 25:29). (Available on Learn 360) The Last Stop - Otterville, Oxford County, Ontario http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mbqXbL3Coo Seraphim “Joe” Fortes, Lifeguard in Victoria, BC http://www.nfb.ca/film/joe/ TEACHING RESOURCES TO CHECK OUT: Breaking the Chains: Presenting a New Narrative for Canada’s Role in the Underground Railroad (*MARKER AND WEBCAM REQUIRED) - Narratives, reports, and lesson plans (some are missing, not yet uploaded): http://tubman.info.yorku.ca/educational-resources/breaking-the-chains/ - Augmented Reality vignettes are only available on this website: http://futurestories.ca/tubman/arprofiles.html Some Missing Pages: The Black Community in the History of Quebec & Canada www.learnquebec.ca/en/content/curriculum/social_sciences/features/missingpages/ On the Road North Online Exhibit and Lesson Plans http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/edu/ViewLoitCollection.do?method=preview&lang=EN&id=2999 Archives of Ontario-Black history online exhibits and lesson plans http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/black_history.aspx#exhibits http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/education/grade_seven.aspx · Enslaved Africans in Upper Canada · The Black Canadian Experience in Ontario 1834-1914: Flight, Freedom, Foundation · The Freedom Seeker: The Life and Times of Daniel G. Hill Canada Post Black History Month Stamps http://unitedachieversclub.com/canada-post-stamps-celebrating-black-canadians/ These resources can inform and enhance your teaching with new content knowledge and engaging pedagogical approaches to assist you in infusing the African Canadian perspective in your classroom. Happy reading! Teacher Training Paves the Way for Realizing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the SSHG Curriculum6/10/2014
He who learns, teaches. ~Ethiopian Proverb
You cannot teach what you don’t know, plain and simple. Unfortunately, teachers who are teaching History have likely not learned much, if anything, about the African Canadian experience when they were students. It is also quite likely they did not receive any requisite knowledge on the subject matter as pre-service teachers in universities. The teacher is the primary conduit through which the African Canadian experience will flow to students and without effective, continuous training, the diverse stories of Canadians will not be systemically taught in schools. Consequently, teacher education needs to be a key priority in the agenda to make the curriculum more equitable, more diverse, and more inclusive. It’s not about the teacher being an expert; it’s about being a trained facilitator, willing to co-construct knowledge with their students. We need to move beyond the superficial celebration of Black History Month - the posters hung up around the school, the announcements, and the focus on African American icons. These activities often take place outside the boundaries of the classroom, reinforcing the marginalization of Black history, and by extension, Black students. It’s time to move towards meaningful, engaging inclusion in lesson plans and learning activities in the classroom throughout the academic year. We currently have policy guidelines and curriculum documents that encourage the inclusion of the African Canadian and other marginalized experiences in the curriculum. There is the provincial Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, which was first introduced in 1999. This year the Ministry of Education is rolling out the revised Social Studies, History and Geography (SSHG) and Canadian & World Studies (CWS) curriculum. These documents have been restructured to foster the development of more critical thinking skills, and the suggested topics are more inclusive of the African Canadian experience, although there remains no specific learning expectations in the 2013 revised SSHG curriculum document for grades one to eight or in the CWS curriculum documents for grades nine to twelve. However, this change will not filter down to impact student learning without teacher education. Training must be mandatory and part of the push for education reform. In April ETFO launched an education agenda called “Building Better Schools” which outlines what teachers need to help improve the learning environment for all students. One of their five platforms is Great Focus on Equal Opportunity and Inclusion platform, which supports the implementation of the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy. The teacher union recognizes that, “Teachers need classroom materials that reflect the diversity of their classrooms and school communities. Teachers and other education workers also need professional learning that improves their ability to address racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and classism, elements that affect our schools and permeate our society.” So ETFO has recommended that the Ontario Ministry of Education, “Provide classroom resources to support the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy and Provide teachers and other education workers with professional learning that addresses discrimination and oppression of marginalized students.”1 Teachers need access to resources to teach about the African Canadian experience, and there are plenty. Teachers also need appropriate professional training by experts in the field so they can be effective facilitators and approach the topic with some level of confidence and, where it warrants, sensitivity. Recognizing this gap, I began offering workshops for teachers designed with a specific focus on teaching African Canadian experiences across the curriculum. My training sessions support the implementation of the revised curriculum. It provides teachers with constructive and practical classroom strategies to help them effectively infuse the experience of African Canadians into the curriculum through the use of primary sources, online tools, and a range of other well-researched, Canadian-produced supplementary materials. This summer, I will be offering a 2-day institute for educators to assist them in gaining valuable content knowledge and learn inquiry-based approaches to teaching African Canadian history across the curriculum. The first session will be held July 9 – 10 at the Comfort Hotel at 445 Rexdale Blvd. I am delighted to be working with the Peel District School Board to provide a training session to the teachers within their school board on August 19- 20 as part of their efforts to implement equity policies in their schools. Conscious, deliberate action must be taken to address the persistent and systemic absence of the African Canadian narrative in Ontario history classrooms. Having informed teachers is one step in accomplishing that. 1. http://buildingbetterschools.ca/priority/priority-e/
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