Canada’s First All-Black School
by Aleksandar Micovic
If you are anything like me, then you did a double take after reading the title of this post. I, myself, still can’t believe it. It seems that Canada is going to get it’s first “all black” school. Now, I’m no racist, but does anyone else see the obvious problems with this?
Canada doesn’t have a single unified culture. While America can be called a Christian nation (and this might be stretching it for some people), Canada can be referred to as a multicultural mosaic. We, as Canadians, are encouraged to express our culture and beliefs. In fact, some of us are even paid to do it. But when you take a public school and start segregating it, then in my opinion you are crossing the line. This idea of an “all black” school would only work if we took a bunch of black kids and taught them “white” history, while taking all the white kids and teaching them “black” history.
However, this school brings far worse problems. How are we ever to achieve a state of equality when we are constantly reminded of slavery and atrocities committed long ago? I agree that we should never forget them (history has forever recorded them anyway), but we live in a society now that frowns upon and even prevents slavery. Why should we view blacks as an oppressed people? Yes, maybe black ancestors were once oppressed, but my current black friends certainly never were. By erecting this school we are stepping back into a more ignorant and hateful time.
This logic can be applied to all different minority groups. Take for example, homosexuals. But wait, the Toronto district school board even has school for them! How are homosexuals ever to be viewed as equals if we keep separating them? How are blacks, and every other group you can think of, ever to be viewed as equal, if we keep separating them?
The answer is, they never will. We will always view them differently. Black History Month does the same thing. During the four weeks of Black History Month we are reminded of Blacks who did great things. We are reminded of “black” history. Firstly, I don’t want to sound rude, but if you want to study history, there are history books that could teach you far more than some “black” month could. And secondly, why on earth are we only honouring people from one type of race during this month? Where is this logic coming from? Oh wait, we have to because the “black” race was once oppressed in the past, and now that they aren’t any more is only makes sense for everyone to reminded of how “special” the entire “black” race is.
I am white. I’m not a racist. I would say out of every 10 of my friends, only 1 is white. And I don’t mind at all. In fact, I love it. I am very grateful for Canada’s multiculturalism. When I am with my black friends, I don’t think about how their race was once oppressed in the past. I don’t know anybody who does. I treat them like human beings, the way I want to be treated. This is all very obvious. I don’t even know why I’m saying this. Everyone knows how you should treat another human being. Having things like this “all black” school and a Black History Month only reminds us of how blacks were once oppressed. I think I speak for everyone when I say this, but, we don’t need to be reminded of that.
Here are some links to articles. [1][2][3]
Edit: I thank you all for the comments. I realize this is a controversial issue, but let me clear up some misconceptions some people seem to be having. I do not think this school was created to further segregate the black community because they were once oppressed. I only said what I said above because by having this school, it inadvertently segregates the black community, whether we like it or not. For more details, read the comments below.
Comments
“I would say out of every 10 of my friends, only 1 is white.”
That’s because you live in Brampton.
I can see where you’re coming from, but I can also see why the Toronto board would approve this. I don’t think it’s a solution to the problem either, but what do you suggest that they do instead? One of the problems is something you mentioned, the history. In history class, we learn about the Americans, the Europeans, but not the Africans. It’s as if they were erased from history and made no contribution to the world. Perhaps if we were to re-write the history books and not show as much bias, we could moving a step forward rather than back.
Good read, keep it up!
Aleks, long time. I read your post and being a black man, I felt it necessary to respond…lol…
The issue with the approval of the black schools, is an attempt to deal mainly with the violence and unruliness within the black community. I don’t think it has ANYthing to do with separating black because the were once oppressed. Forgive me if I’m misinterpreting you post. However, with that being said, I hadn’t really formed an opinion on the issue until very recently. I personally don’t agree with it either. My main reason being, it puts a colour on irresponsibility and city-wide violence. Now though it’s true that the stats show that certain crimes are committed disproportionately by blacks, the truth is other types of crimes are also disproportionately commited by other races. An All Race “at-risk” school , dedicated to properly integrating at-risk youth into society, would do more good than setting black individuals as the bench mark for irresponsible behavior. My opinion.
***correction***
i believe it’s an attempt to deal mainly with the violence and unruliness within the inner-city
Haha, it’s always good to get a response from a black man ^_^ Thanks for commenting Mosope.
I agree that the underlying purpose of this school is, as you adequately put it, “it’s an attempt to deal mainly with the violence and unruliness within the inner-city”. But having this school isn’t the best way to go about it. And I’m glad to see that you agree. And in my opinion, it’s the worst way to go about it because it segregates the black community even more. Many of my other black friends seem to agree with this as well.
I know it doesn’t have anything to do with the black people being oppressed. But by having this school, not only are we reminded of that, but like you said, it indeed puts a colour on crime, and that isn’t very fair to the black community, or anyone for that matter.
And Yousra, I don’t quite know what you mean by bias in history. History has recorded the atrocities committed against blacks. In terms of historic significance, however, Africa didn’t give much to the world when compared to Asia or Europe. So I really know where you’re getting at. And in Canada, we don’t learn about anything other than Canada! Which makes me really mad, lol. Only once you leave high school can you truly study history outside of what we were taught in high school. I blame the curriculum for that one, though. The same can be said about geography.
Alek, if you had read the news articles you refrenced at the end of your rant you would have known that Canada isn’t, in fact, supporting an “all-black” school at all. The school would be open to all nationalities, and would simply focus it’s curriculum to encompass culturally sensitive Afrocentric issues.
The real problem with this whole situation is that people of African or African-American descent feel the need to introduce an alternative to a mainstream educational system that is culturally insensitive, where none is currently available. The supporters of this school feel that they are not being represented in our current system and have propsed the only solution that they know will work. This also ties into the reason that “black history” month is deemed important in America. It is because “white history” is the only subject being taught in the social science curriculum. You could say the same for Canada. I don’t think i’ve ever been taught about the political history of African nations in the public school system. These subjects are available only to those students who go to college or post-secondary as objective history courses, diplomatically enough. Call me cynical, but the only thing I remember being taught about “black history” in the public education system is the American civil war, and if what they say is true and history is written by the victors, you can only get a narrow scope of the black slavery issue from a “white” perspective… not to mention that those textbooks were endorsed by the executive white middle-class elite.
It is a special interest imperative that can, I agree, cause a slippery slope into racial segregation. However, since the school will be allowing any student, regardless of race, to apply, it can be argued that his could be called a form of cultural protectionism instead of racism.
Chelsey, thank you very much for your comment.
Perhaps I did misinterpret that no one but blacks would be allowed in the school. I apologize for that. I, however, am still glad that you seem to agree it will segregate the black community even further.
Something obviously needs to be done about teaching history in schools. But, this is Canada’s fault. Since coming out of highschool, I have just realized how much useless Canadian crap we learned at school. And what’s more, it’s ALL we learned while going to school.