Racism
"Race is a socially constructed way of judging, categorizing and creating difference among people. Despite the fact that there are no biological “races,” the social construction of race is a powerful force with real consequences for individuals.
Racism operates at several levels, including individual, systemic or institutional and societal. Racial discrimination can be impacted by related Code grounds such as colour, ethnic origin, place of origin, ancestry and creed. In addition, race can overlap or intersect with other grounds such as sex, disability, sexual orientation, age and family status to create unique or compounded experiences of discrimination.
Racial discrimination can occur through stereotyping and overt prejudice or in more subconscious, subtle and subversive ways. Racial discrimination also occurs in significant measure on a systemic or institutional level. Policies, practices, decision-making processes and organizational culture can create or perpetuate a position of relative disadvantage for racialized persons."
- Ontario Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Part 1 – setting the context: Understanding race, racism and racial discrimination. Policy and Guidelines on Racism and Racial Discrimination. https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination
General Education Resources
- Black Lives Matter Resources (for adults to kids: K - Post secondary)
- Building a Stronger and More Inclusive Ontario: Ontario’s Anti-Racism Strategic Plan, released in August, 2023.
- Canadian Association for Neuroscience https://can-acn.org/equity-diversity-and-inclusivity-in-neuroscience/anti-racism-resources/
- Cole, D. (2023, January 11). The skin I’m in: I’ve been interrogated by police more than 50 times-all because I’m black. Toronto Life. https://torontolife.com/life/skin-im-ive-interrogated-police-50-times-im-black/
- Cole, D. (2020). The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power.
- Creating an anti-racist classroom
- Eizadirad, A., Abawi, Z., & Campbell. A. (2023). Enacting anti-racism and activist pedagogies in teacher education: Canadian perspectives. Canadian Scholars Press.
- Experiences Canada https://experiencescanada.ca/anti-racism-conversations/anti-racism-resources/
- Kendi, I. X. (2019). How to be anti-racist.
-
Learning for Justice - https://www.learningforjustice.org/
- What is White Privilege, Really? webinar
- Teaching Hard History: American Slavery
- Teaching the American Civil Rights Movement
- Let's Talk! Teaching Black Lives Matter webinar
- Let's Talk! Discussing Whiteness webinar
- The Colour of Law webinar about the role of U.S. segregation in housing, employment, wealth accumulation, etc. and the policies that made it happen
- Latinx History is Black History webinar
- Teaching Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage webinar
- Race Matters student-facing article (Senior)
- Mikal Amin Lee (2020) Hip-Hop practice as pedagogy, Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, 42:5, 409-426, DOI: 10.1080/10714413.2021.1874849
- Public Service Alliance of Canada - https://psacunion.ca/anti-racism-resources
- Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (Instagram): Passionate about eradicating inequality & ending invisibility in entertainment. https://www.instagram.com/inclusionists/
- Professional Advisory on Anti-Black Racism, video below
- Racial Equity Tools - https://www.racialequitytools.org/
- Racism Scale - https://stuartcenter.org/resource/racism-scale
- Safe at School – Equity and Inclusion Resources https://www.safeatschool.ca/resources/resources-on-equity-and-inclusion
- Safe at School – Racism, Sexism & Homophobia https://www.safeatschool.ca/plm/equity-and-inclusion/racism-sexism-homophobia-social-problems
- Teaching for Black Lives https://www.teachingforblacklives.org/
- McIntosh, P. (1988). White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. (Not for use with students).
- Anti-Racism for Kids 101 PJI
- Your Kids aren’t Too Young to Talk about Race: PJI
- White Accomplices - Resources for Racial Justice https://www.whiteaccomplices.org/
Performing Arts Resources
- Authenticity in casting: From ‘colorblind’ to ‘color conscious,’ new rules are anything but black and white - Jessica Gelt
- Chen, & Kacerek, C. R. (2022). Leaders and Followers during Sociodramatic Play: A Study of Racial/Ethnic Minority Preschool Children from Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Backgrounds. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 36(3), 517–540. https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2021.1960939
- CODE’s Addressing Anti-Black Racism Panel & teacher’s resource (PDF)
- Ethnic and Cultural Diversities video series - Brock University
- Fatkin, G. Y. K. (1988). Anti-racism themes in theatre for young audiences: Teaching tolerance through drama (thesis). https://summit.sfu.ca/item/5172
-
HowlRound Theatre Collective
- Anti-Racist Theatre resources: https://howlround.com/tags/anti-racist-theatre
- Black Feminist Theatre – Podcast https://howlround.com/when-and-where-we-enter-black-feminist-theatre
- Black Theatre resources: https://howlround.com/tags/black-theatre
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion resources: https://howlround.com/tags/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
- Double-Consciousness as a Black Theatre Practitioner (Performing Blackness) – Essay https://howlround.com/seeing-double-double-consciousness-black-theatre-practitioner
- NFB/ONF - Anti-Racism Films - https://www.nfb.ca/playlist/anti-racism-films/
- Rojas, N. (2022, April 13). Harvard class examines representation in theater. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/04/harvard-class-examines-representation-in-theater/
From Canada's Theatre Museum Legend Library Collection: Jean Yoon
Jean Yoon’s interview on Canada’s Theatre Museum YouTube channel - screenshot
Explore our Legend Library Collection featuring a special interview with actor and writer Jean Yoon. In this candid conversation, she shares her perspectives on creating theatre in Canada, the relationship between activism and art, and the ongoing pursuit of inclusivity and equity in the performing arts.
In the Exhibition: Lady Rokujo Costume from "No No Miya"
Costume for Lady Rokujo in "No No Miya," designed by Julia Tribe, Tapestry Music Theatre
Now on view in our "Welcome to the Museum" exhibition is the costume of Lady Rokujo from "No No Miya," an opera presented in Toronto in 1995 and inspired by the classical Japanese Noh play "Aoi no Ue." Created by composer Rudolph Komorous and produced by Tapestry Music Theatre, the piece reimagines a centuries-old tale from "The Tale of Genji," blending Japanese theatrical traditions with Canadian operatic storytelling. This production followed an earlier version first staged in Vancouver in 1974, commissioned by the Vancouver New Music Society. The 1995 staging was part of the "Today’s Japan" program at Harbourfront Centre.
CODE Resources
- African and Hip-Hop – Grade 7 Dance
- ALL Dance Course Profiles: Cultural Dance – Secondary
- In or Out – Junior Dance/Drama – Public
- World on Fire – Intermediate Dance – Public
- Star-Cursed: Exploring Otherness in Shakespeare's Othello, Workshop Notes Code-Upon Avon 2019 – J/I/S Drama – Public
- Clowning for Change – Grade 9 Drama – Members Only
- The Outsider: A Drama Structure Based on the Play Schoolhouse by Leanna Brodie – Senior Drama – Member Only
Picture Books for Entry Points
- The Day You Begin by Jaqueline Woodson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM3DesXftrQ PJI
- Youtube channel: Sankofa Read Aloud PJI https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLBquMIehDL8Mv0ttSv6lzQ
- Hair Love PJI
- Smoky Night by Eve Bunting: Refers back to 1992
-
A Book about Racism by Jelani Memory K to 8 (Primary but perfect for everyone!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnaltG5N8nE
-
Black Lives Matter Spoken Word Poem: Grade 7/8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4TquYwHU1M
-
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Grade ⅞ and up) https://www.harpercollins.com/childrens/thehateugive-1/
-
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Grade 7/8 and up) https://jewellparkerrhodes.com/children/books/ghost-boys/
-
Some book ideas from Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/books-about-racism-and-social-justice
For ALL the Time - and especially in this time of remote learning - this is great place to start in the TDSB:
Building Critical Consciousness: Support for Developing Learning Resources and Well-being Experiences: Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression
Teacher Resources for Adult Learning:
-
Racism Scale (Grade 7 to adult): https://racismscale.weebly.com/?fbclid=IwAR1RN3hAfiAVv5ex_QQSRKXw9r-EXnC3ZEcKna_BqfXhj3Yl5FMtLnq0DyE
-
Resources for Racial Justice for Educators: Actor to Ally to Accomplice Grade 6 to Adult https://www.whiteaccomplices.org/
-
Thinking About Social Movements: https://ruckus.org/training-manuals/direct-action-resources/
Some ETFO resources...
-
http://etfo.ca/BuildingAJustSociety/anti-blackracism/pages/anti-blackracism.aspx
-
http://etfo.ca/SupportingMembers/Resources/Pages/365.aspx (has a lot of curriculum links and worksheets, organized by division and available in French).
Government resources
-
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/anti-racism-engagement/resources.html
-
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/community/confronting-anti-black-racism/
Book Club for Educators:
-
How to be Anti-Racist by Ibrahim X Kendi
-
The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole
-
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
-
Key article: Grade 7-12 and adult CBC journalist Asha Tomlinson June 1, 2020 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/raising-young-black-man-1.5594179
Teacher resources for Student Learning and Response
-
TDSB Equity Page (check out Black Student Excellence) https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Equity-Anti-Racism-and-Anti-Oppression
-
TDSB Talking about Race and Racism with Children Resource: Google Doc and Booklist PJI
-
TDSB TEACHER LIBRARIARIAN CHOICE BOARDS:
-
https://sites.google.com/tdsb.on.ca/tlsleading-learning/home/reading-literacy/anti-racism-resources
-
Black LIves Matter Resources (for adults to kids: K - Post secondary)
-
A People’s Uprising: Understanding the Recent Protests Black LIves Matter Slides to explain the current protests Grade ⅞
-
Ressources en Français: (7& 8 année)
-
En se basant sur les événements en cours, liés aux manifestations contre le racisme anti-noir, aux Etats-Unis et même au Canada (Québec/Toronto); veuillez réfléchir à propos de leur signification. Ci-dessous il y a quelques questions qui peuvent vous aider afin de répondre à la question Qu’est-ce que j'éprouve en regardant cette image? (utiliser le site de menti afin d’y répondre). Voici l’image: Dai Sugano - Image
- Quelle est la connexion entre cette image et le racisme institutionnel?
- Quel est le sens de se mettre à genoux devant la police?
- Si on reste neutre, a-t-on choisi le côté de l’oppresseur?
- Sommes nous tous affectés par ces manifestations? Comment?
-
New York Times: (des plans de Cours) Les articles ci-dessous se focalisent sur les thèmes suivants:
- l’exploration de la race
- les préjugés
- l'identité des élèves
- Les manifestations monstre dans les rues de Toronto contre le racisme anti-noir. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0qD2K2RWkc
|
I Am NOT Black, You are NOT White - YouTube These Labels were Made Up to Divide us. I am not black, you are not white. Drop the labels. URGENT: YouTube won’t show you my NEW videos UNLESS you TURN O... |
Feedback
We would love for you to add to this resource! If you see something missing, have a suggested resource or want to flag a concern with a resource shared here, please use the Feedback button in the left menu. As a team of volunteers, CODE will do our best to respond to these inquiries and update these resources as often as possible.




