Localizing Black History

Abstract

I selected localizing Black history as my research area of focus as growing up a mixed person of colour, I rarely learned about Black history within local contexts as I will introduce you to within this project. Though not taught the full scope of Canadian history during my time as a student in the NCDSB (Niagara Catholic District School board), I was one of the lucky few whose parents took the time to provide tid bits of information about the rich Black History Fort Erie and the Greater Buffalo Niagara region is home to. My goal and aim with this project is to eliminate future students walking down the streets of their hometowns not knowing about the incredible history around them. The research methodology used for this project was performed primarily through archival research at the Fort Erie Historical Museum, the African Corridor in Buffalo NY, as well as online discovery research. However, in order to grasp the gaps missing in current education, and what avenue to take with the product of the project I took advisement from local Black champions pushing for Black education. In my findings most of the past education surrounding Black History in schools until recently has been plagiarized from America. While these two nations share a deep-rooted history, for far too long has Canada has adopted the same Black history narratives as the US, highlighting amazing Black change makers such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King; however, it has failed to mention Canada’s change makers. Currently, there has been an influx to introduce some of Canada’s Black history into “The Ontario Curriculum;” however, just the word “Black,” is only mentioned 14 times for grades 3 – 8, to compare the word “British” which is used 63 times. While the curriculum mentions Black history 14 times, it is not always taught, and is usually a topic, module, or unit that is ‘missed,’ in order to ensure the central focus of the course is completed in its entirety. The archival research completed for this project and subsequent curriculum developed demonstrates the rich local Black history of the Fort Erie and Greater Buffalo Niagara region for those living within these areas and will provide middle school educators with a way in which to introduce this rich history to students in this region.