February 1^st, 2022

Black History Month starts today. Bond Academy will recognize, celebrate, educate and discuss the month in the whole school. It is essential to choose how we will continue to have these conversations, especially at a time in world history where our society is so fractured due to racism and inequity. 

Black History Month is an occasion to celebrate the many contributions of citizens of African descent to our country. Throughout the month of February, the staff and students at Bond Academy will be celebrating Black History Month, by exploring, learning, recognizing, and appreciating the contributions of our African Canadians in Canadian history, society and culture, past and the present. As well, we need to recognize our failures in Canadian history, in terms of racial inequality and discrimination, past and present. 

As stated by President Barack Obama: "No one is born hating another person because of the color of their skin or their background or their religion." "We are one people, one family, the human family, and what affects one of us affects us all."

To stand up for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color, pronounced “bye-pock”), Bond staff will discuss and review the December 2021 OCT Professionally Speaking magazine entitled "Addressing Anti-Black Racism" and were sharing resources against hate and racism in Canada. Teachers will embed discussions on equity and diverse perspectives, as part of their everyday curriculum and lesson planning. Every student's input will be included and collected.

Guest speakers from our community will be invited to hold virtual presentations on the importance of Black History Month, recognize the contributions that Black Canadians made to Canada and discuss how we can strive for a better society with Bond students. 

Our virtual events will highlight the official theme, “February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day” and invite all peoples in our communities to honour and celebrate the resilience and transformative impact of Black communities who are making Black history today and continue laying the groundwork for Black history in the future. This year’s theme reminds us to recognize and reflect on the past and present remarkable accomplishments, experiences, and challenges of Black communities from coast to coast to coast, not only in February, but all year long.

Library Books and Resources:

There are many excellent books in the library that recognize the incredible history and contributions of Black Canadians and Americans. Teachers are welcome to drop by and borrow a book to read to their classes. Throughout this month, additional resources will be shared with teachers.

Books in Bond Library:

• Black Canadian History (Rosemary Sadlier)
• Follow the Drinking Gourd (Jeanette Winter)
• Underground to Canada (Barbara Smucker)
• Crossing to Freedom (Virginia Frances Schwartz)
• Tubman - Her Life in the US and Canada (Rosemary Sadlier)
• The Story of Ruby Bridges (Robert Coles)
• The Black Snowman (Phil Mendez)
• Jackie Robinson (Don McLeese)
• Who Was Louis Armstrong (Yona Zeldis McDonough)
• Dream March - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the March on Washington (Vaunda Micheaux Nelson)
• Nelson Mandela (Kadir Nelson)
• Granddaddy's Gift (Margaree King Mitchell)
• The Canning Season (Margaret Carlson)
• Talkin' About Bessie - The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman by Nikki Grimes 
• Champions of the Bench - The Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars (Carole Boston Weatherford)

Books on Epic: Epic - Books for Kids (getepic.com)

• Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged (Jody Nyasha Warner)
• Mae Jemison: Trailblazing Astronaut, Doctor, and Teacher (Linda Barghoorn)
• Richard Wright and the Library Card -  (William Miller)
• Hair Story (NoNieqa Ramos)
• The Civil Rights Movement (Max Winter)
• Rosa Parks (L.S. Summer)
• Jackie Robinson (Tony De Marco)

Resources: 

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/black-history-in-canada

This website includes:

• Quizzes on Canadian Black History (easy, medium, and hard) based on questions from the Canadian Citizenship Test for newcomers
• Education Guide + Timeline
• Canadian Heritage Videos (i.e. Viola Desmond, Maurice Ruddick, and more)
• Articles: "Black History in Canada: 1960 to Present", "Black Female Freedom Fighters"
• Photo Gallery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VjjEPON9-A

This is an excellent video from CBC Kids News, focusing on the diversity of Black Canadians, and celebrating past, present and future contributions! The video is about 10 minutes long and appropriate for all grade levels.