Purpose
Provides tips for leading discussions about race in the classroom
A support for classroom teachers using My Place in This World
This briefing defines some key terms and/or concepts that may arise when working with students.
Tips for Leading Discussions about Race in the Classroom
Use terms accurately and purposefully. In a discussion about Black history/heritage or African history/heritage, it is important to be deliberate about keeping the discussion focussed on stories that have largely been ignored or omitted from Ontario’s history curricula. Discuss why there is a need to focus on Black history/heritage specifically. Learning about African history/heritage does not take away from learning about other histories. Understand that we are all enriched when we learn about multiple perspectives, histories, and lived experiences. Avoid framing racism and discrimination as perspectives and actions undertaken by “bad people.” Instead, emphasize that it is a norm and a system that everyone has a responsibility to self-reflect on and change their actions accordingly. Be prepared to address assumptions and stereotypes that students might already carry about the African continent. We live in a Eurocentric society that, for a long time, assumed the inferiority of the African continent and Black people. It is likely that students have already formed ideas about African history/heritage and African people. Support students as they encounter information that might challenge their preconceived ideas about the African continent and its peoples.
Terms Defined
Key Concepts: Racial Literacy
Race
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Racialization
Racialization [2] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Systemic Racism
Systemic Racism [3] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Intersectionality
Intersectionality [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Anti-Black Racism
Anti-black Racism [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Colonialism
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Eurocentrism
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Decolonization
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Precolonial
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Black
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Ethnicity
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Biracial/Multiracial
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Transracial
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
Additional Resources
Race [1] is a socially constructed system of classification rooted in descriptions of difference. Historically, it was employed as a means of justifying hierarchies of humanity and the subjugation of groups defined as racially inferior. People with common origins might share certain physical traits, but these have little or nothing to do with personality, intelligence, and moral behavior. There is no legitimate scientific basis for racial classification. The concept of race does not correspond to a biological or genetic reality. Race and races are the product of historical relations and ideas. Race is not an objective or fixed category. Society invents racial categories, manipulates them, and retires them when convenient.
[1] Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory (Third Edition): An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2017. Intro, Ch F. Ontario Human Rights Code: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-and-guidelines-racism-and-racial-discrimination/part-1-%E2%80%93-setting-context-understanding-race-racism-and-racial-discrimination Ontario Antiracism Directorate: https://www.ontario.ca/document/data-standards-identification-and-monitoring-systemic-racism/glossary
