Black History Month

Start

"Ours to Tell"

black history month

Beyond Black History Month

Taste of Black Culture

Assembly

Session 03 Monday February 13

Session 05 Wednesday February 15

Session 07 Tuesday February 21

Session 06 Thursday February 16

Session 04 Tuesday February 14

Session 08 Wednesday February 22

Session 09 Thursday February 23

Session 02 Friday February 10

Session 10 Friday February 24

Session 11 Monday February 27

Session 12 Tuesday February 28

Session 01 Thursday February 9

Learning sessions

Dreams in VantaBlack Developed in a UK lab, the colour Vantablack is the darkest shade of black, so dark that when painted on an object it disappears into shadows; much like the voices of many Black youth living in Canada. These youth have found the power of their voice through poetry, allowing them to embrace the strength, history and honour of their identities. When they dream, they envision a world without injustice and see themselves as global citizens, agents of change, catalysts for a better society. These are not stories of adversity; they are tales of growth, learning, a conjuring of beautifully brilliant dreams.

Equity Challenge An interactive component that challenges students to think about their biases, prejudices and stereotypes as we move towards becoming allies.

O Canada Preformed by various Black artisits

How to navigate this resource

Starting Thurs. Feb. 9, 2023 each homeroom teacher will facilitate the commemoration of Black History Month by choosing from a variety of audio, visual and interactive media that were curated to highlight the stories of the Black community. On the next slide, the teacher will be able to choose a set day and will then proceed to click on the "O Canada" and prayer for that date. The remainder of the available media are optional but we encourage all classes to dedicate time to this important endeavour.

Video of a contemporary Black trailblazer in Canada

Video biography, of influential and inspiring Black people throughout history

Prayer, to observe the remembrance of prominent Balck people and important events

Who me? Biased? Understanding Implict Bias

The Seed Cycle, by Ivy Black, follows a young girl who investigates how she, like a young sapling, can grow and blossom into her best self.

Dreams in VantaBlack

Juliet Daniel - Cancer Researcher McMaster University

Contemporary Black Pioneer

Historical Black Canadian

Thursday february 9, 2023

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Kathleen Kay Livingstone

Prayer for Black History Month

Prayer

O Canada for MLK Day 2021 - Martina Ortiz Luis

O Canada

Developed by African Americans Jazz has been, from its very beginnings at the turn of the 20th century, a constantly evolving, expanding, changing music.

Jemison blasted into orbit aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, September 12, 1992. Now, founder and president of two technology companies, the space flight was just one of a series of accomplishments for her.

Historical Black Canadian

Contemporary Black Pioneer

Continue where you left off yesterday!

Dreams in VantaBlack

Who me? Biased? Understanding Implict Bias

Friday February 10, 2023

Elijah McCoy was an African-Canadian mechanical engineer and inventor best known for his groundbreaking innovations

Today's prayer honours St. Moses the Ethiopian or sometimes known as St. Moses the Strong, as an apostle of non-violence.

Prayer

In Jennifer Kasiama’s wise I Spy, a young Jenn finds a bottle of skin lightening cream which takes her on a fantastical adventure, exploring colourism and its effect on self-confidence.

O Canada

Test your knowledge with a wordle!

A Letter to My Son by Laura Baptiste

Frantz Voltaire: Preserving Afro-Caribbean culture

Duke Ellington: Pianist, Conductor, Songwriter

Interactive Activity

Dreams in VantaBlack

A Prayer for Mercy Click on the image above for an audio version of the prayer and "prayer" to read along.

Prayer

Historical Black Canadian

Contemporary Black Pioneer

Monday February 13, 2023

O Canada (African Refix) - Tolazee and Rolakzee

O Canada

Today's prayer honours Sr. Thea Bowman

Supafly

Charlotte demonstrated a activism both in the classroom as a teacher and during the abolitionist movement

Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, as well as an award-winning writer and graduate of Harvard University, where she studied Sociology. She has written for the New York Times and has three books forthcoming with Penguin Random House.

Dreams in Vanatablack:

Click on the above window for a brief presentaiton on privilege and allyship then click here to put your learning to the test with a Jeopardy!!!

Contemporary Black Pioneer: Amanda Gorman

Historical Black Canadian: Charlotte Forten Grimke

Prayer

O Canada performed by The Melisizwe Brothers

tuesday February 14, 2023

Mary was an activist, journalist/publisher, teacher, and lawyer. She was the first black woman newspaper publisher in Canada/North America.

Contemporary Black Pioneers- CBC

Ted-Ed Interactive Activity

How one journalist risked her life to hold murderers accountable

Dreams in Vanta Black The Trees Sing

Our Lady of Kibeho

Prayer

Mary Ann Shadd

Canva slideshow about North Preston, N.S. students publishing their own book about their historic black community.

wednesday February 15, 2023

O Canada -- Toronto Mass Choir

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian stateswoman and former journalist who served from 2005 to 2010 as governor general of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation. She is the first Haitian Canadian and black person to hold this office.

Interactive activity - Notable African- American Women Quiz. The answers to this quiz can be found in the information presented on this slide!

Dreams in Vantablack In her poem Secondary, Libin Ahmed addresses how anger can get the best of her, but how she can also appropriate its power.

Contemporary pioneer A Calgary non-profit that supports pregnant Black women and families wants help to expand

Historical Figure

Servant of God Mother Mary Lange Land Prayer

O Canada: Class of 2020 by William Leathers

thursday February 16th, 2023

Please refer to pages 1-3 on this editable document to further understand how art- based programs can help achieve social justice goals.

Legacies, Struggles, and Contributions in the 21st Century

Bag Lady

Dreams in Vantablack

This Montrealer helps former prisoners survive life during and after prison.

Contemporary Pioneer

tuesday february 21st, 2023

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Marsha P Johnson was a transgender woman, LGBTQ+ rights activist, self-identified drag queen who fought in the gay rights movement in New york between the years 1960 until 1970.

Prayer

Historical Figure

Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi

Oh Canada Steel Pan Style for the 150 Year CIBC’s Stand for Canada Celebration

Oh Canada

Teachers, share the following link with your students to learn more about the human rights code and how the United Nations is promoting the legacy of people of African decent. Please highlight your focus on pages 4-6”.

Black History Month word search The following word search will consist of words found in the prayer and videos shown.

Dreams in VantaBlack

Dr. Alexa Canady is the first African American woman in the United States to become a neurosurgeon.

Contemporary pioneer

Viola Desmond was a Canadian civil and women's rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent.

Historical figure

The mother of St.Augustine and St.Perpetua

St.Monica prayer

The national anthem sung by KW Glee featuring soloist Isabelle Aboaqye

O Canada

9-year-old Eva Anthony’s engaging poem Advice offers a list of useful and wise directions on how to live a better life.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Learn Black History

In Dear Simone Biles, former gymnast Egypt Morgan changes her outlook on the sport with the help of the superstar herself

Dreams in VantaBlack

New hockey program giving black kids an equal opportunity in sports

Contemporary Black Pioneers

Historical Black Athlete

Thursday february 23, 2023

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Jesse Owens: the first black man to become an Olympic champion in track and field

I Dream A World by Langston Hughes

Prayer

O Canada sung by Jully Black

O Canada

Historical Figure Ruby Bridges was a young girl who attended an all white school and faced racsim from peers and community around her. By experiencing this, Ruby Bridges opened opportunities for other black students to attend school and acquire an education

Prayer of Empowerment Click play to hear prayer

Dreams in Vantablack"Hurricane" is a poem in which the author speaks about her mental illnesses and how she has overcome them

Kahoot Information based on the videos and article shown

Contemporary Pioneer All Black-Canadian baseball team

O Canada Darnell Thomas & Friends

FRiday February 24, 2023

Farley Flex is a successful Canadian entertainer and community builder. He has managed the career of a Juno Award-winning Hip Hop artist, been a founding member of Canada's first Black-owned radio station, and served as a judge on Canadian Idol. In the community sector, Flex has co-founded several initiatives aimed at building capacity and promoting positive change, including R.E.A.L. School and Just Think 1st. He is a partner at Urban Rez Solutions, a social enterprise known for its expertise in Transformative Change Management, Conflict Management, youth and community engagement, violence prevention, and social mobilization..

In-Person Assembly Guest Speaker - Farley Flex

Almighty God, of all creation, maker of all things, beauty beyond measure, that cannot be exhausted! We worship you, we glorify you and we thank you for the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ who came to earth to make us one. He broke down the walls of separation and He has given us a command that whatsoever we do to anyone, we do unto Him. In this month of memory and celebration may the spirit of Sankofa live in us. Be before us now Lord, and make a way for us. May those who are wounded, be healed. May those who suffer, experience the expansive love that you have put in our hearts for, our capacity to love is infinite! May structures of injustice be pulled down by courageous Christians and people of good will. May every person in this world be embraced as someone beautiful onto You! Amen.

Prayer

Monday February 27, 2023

Thank-you for helping us to commemorate Black History Month! Please join us as we conclude this month's activities with a video that highlights this year's theme: “Ours to Tell” In this video, students will share stories of success, resistance and resilience through various mediums to inspire you to build a more equitable society that leaves no one behind.

Virtual Black History Month Video

Tuesday February 28, 2023

Beyond february...

Our school has had a long standing relationship with a community partner organization known as Ifarada and they have been most instrumental in the establishment of a more equitable school environment that celebrates diversity. In partnership with the unity group, Ifarada has designed a 6 week program that will address issues such as cultural appropriation vs appreciation, colourism/shadism, and microagressions, over the lunches in the chapel. Workshops will be open to the first 40 students who register. Workshops will begin after the March Break every Wednesday. If you are interested please click here to register!

Here are some ideas on how you can be more involved:

Consider reading books by Black authors. Click here for suggestions for youth.

Educating ourselves on Canadian Black history is a year-round endeavour, not just in February. Black History is not something from the past, it is still happening now, and whoever we are, we can contribute to it. Partner with local or national organizations to up the authenticity, find experts, and communicate with outside audiences.