Is this Black enough? Provocations and contemplations

Abstract

Through my Master of Education studies at Lakehead University, I have aimed to conceptualize intersectional experiences within education while theorizing the outcomes of race in education. As a racialized person who grew up in a neighbourhood that is considered “at risk”, I consider my educational experiences to be uniquely situated in a paradox of sorts. Despite the limit-situations presented in my environment, I was able to set myself apart from some of my peers who experienced less academic success, less student achievement, and less life readiness. The ability of some to overcome certain conditions despite their environment, particularly in education, is curious to me. Within this portfolio, I am seeking to explore the relationship between race and education within the Greater Toronto Area. It is my hope that readers will travel with me through this multilayered voyage. Much like a multi-city trip, this portfolio will have a few destinations as a part of our itinerary. We will begin with a literature review that focuses on the identity, power, class and experiences of racialized individuals. It is my belief that this review will lay the foundation for anyone who explores race in education as it introduces readers to the subject matter and engages a critical lens towards social constructs. Next, is a presentation that was shared at an Arts Conference held at the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. This presentation shows the work of the community arts sector, and the ways that this sector addresses educational gaps amongst racialized and marginalized students that formal schooling often misses. Finally, the last item on the itinerary is a series of both academic and op-ed articles. One of the articles in that series was written after on a round table discussion that shared and analyzed the perspectives of Black adults who were former Ontario high school students who experienced the streaming process. These experiences showed the unique perspectives of streaming as racial discrimination, and underscored the lasting impacts of the streaming process in the lives of young Black adults in the GTA. Through these pieces, I have curated a variety of sources that aim to paint a clearer picture of the relationship that exists between race and education. As I unpack the educational achievements and under achievements of many racialized youth in the school system, please view the proceeding with the understanding that the experiences shared are not representative of all racialized peoples. Rather, these are only a few poignant and intimate findings that exist amongst a plethora of diverse racialized experiences in education.