My family fought anti-Black racism in the school system?and won
My son Ziphion?s high school graduation last summer was a very emotional day for me. It felt like time stopped when I heard his name called, as I remembered everything he had to overcome to get there. Then the moment ended, and Ziphion walked across the stage with his diploma, a certificate in French and an Ontario honours award. With both tears and a smile on my face, I turned to my husband?the look we shared was one of pride and joy, but also relief. He won!
After a year?s break, Ziphion starts university this fall. Like any mom, I?m proud. But I?m not like any mom: my son?s public school education was a daily lesson in systemic racism, and our family?s efforts to get justice turned into a very public, high-profile battle with an entire school board. As I learned about the dangers that Black children face at school?including consistently higher rates of suspensions and expulsions?pushing to change that reality became a permanent part of my life. We live in York Region, just north of Toronto. Ziphion started school filled with hope and optimism. He?s always been a self-assured, well spoken kid?when he was six he began reciting speeches by Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr. and, later, Barack Obama, at public events around the city, even using their accents. His grade one teacher described him as intelligent, confident, kind and funny, with a zest for learning. But I believe that his confidence intimidated other teachers throughout his school years, teachers who weren?t...
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