Throughout the month of February, the Trinity College School community had the opportunity to learn and grow in understanding through initiatives to honour and celebrate Black History Month.
Observed in Canada, the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, Black History Month is a time to honour the contributions of Black people and to uplift Black voices. Indeed, these practices must extend beyond the month of February, with Black History Month serving as a reminder of the need to continue working towards greater racial justice the world over, each and every day.
At TCS, the Senior School began the month with an awareness day hosted by the Black Student Alliance (BSA), where students were asked to wear the colours of the Pan-African flag (red, yellow, green and black). This flag has been a symbol of the unity and advancement of people of African descent around the world since the 1920s. The BSA concluded the month with a presentation in chapel including a fun musical quiz highlighting Black artists and trivia questions about influential Black people throughout history.
The Senior School curriculum integrated themes in conjunction with the month. For example, in Grade 11 Media Arts, students explored American artist Nick Cave’s Soundsuits series, sculptural forms that originated as metaphorical “suits of armour” in response to the 1991 assault of Rodney King, and which have evolved into vehicles for empowerment. As well, both the Junior and Senior school libraries featured prominent displays highlighting Black voices and stories.
In the Junior School, just prior to the start of the month, guest speaker Aubrey Noronha led students through workshops geared to their age level on the subject of racism. In early February, students in the Allies Against Racism and Discrimination (AARD) group presented on Black History Month during assembly. Then, on Wednesday, February 22nd, the AARD welcomed TCS alumni Bolu Abiola ’22, Kamsy Onyekere ’22 and Taige Emtage ’22 to speak in the Dick & Jane LeVan Theatre. These young alumni, who were among the founders of the BSA during their time at the School, responded to students’ questions on many issues around race, including micro-aggressions, allyship and misconceptions about racism. The Junior School concluded Black History Month with a dress down day where students wore black shirts, or their Black Lives Matter gear, on Monday, February 27th.
