Black History

Izida Zorde in Conversation with LeRoi Newbold.

I recently participated in a curriculum workshop for teachers hosted by Natasha Henry.

Anybody who works in an inner-city school has likely heard students mock one another by referring to others as “Ghetto.” They use this as a derogatory term that implies poor quality or of limited means. I wanted to challenge my combined grade 7 and 8 students’ perception of this word and push them to think deeply about the power of language.

In February, many schools plan event filled Black History Month activities focused on showcasing the cultural and historical contributions of people of African descent within Canada and the world. During my first four years of teaching, I organized similar activities, but I often felt something was missing.