Black Liberatory Education in Canada

Purpose The purpose of this research is to acknowledge that while there has always been anti-Black oppression and state sanctioned violence towards Black children in schools, there have also always existed spaces where Black children in the care of Black parents and community members are encouraged to demonstrate brilliance and creativity. I am interested in documenting these spaces of resistance and freedom, and in understanding what lessons may be learned from the documentation and archiving of these spaces. The purpose of this work is to amplify the voices of Black community and to highlight the work of Black community spaces. Problem What are the tenets that make Black community led educational spaces liberatory and affirming for Black parents and children? Basic Design Black parents, youth, and community educators identified community minded educational spaces where they feel affirmed and liberated. I then interviewed Black educators, youth, and parents to understand the pedagogy used in these spaces. Interviews took between 20 minutes and one hour. I then coded the data in order to draw out re-emergent tenets among the community spaces featured in this research. Based on this coding I pulled out 7 tenets of Black liberatory education employed in Ontario. Findings This research explores 7 tenets of Black liberatory education that were commonly featured in Black community led educational spaces in Ontario: 1. Transformative Justice 2. Black affirmative curriculum 3. Intersectional curriculum/Disabilities Justice 4. Family building` 5. Arts based curriculum 6. Land Based Learning/Spirituality 7. Community Self-Determination