Reflecting Key Concept(s) as an Anti-Racist Educator

One course elective I was required to take as a future visual art teacher was VISA 3000/4000/4001 - Teaching Visual Arts in the Intermediate-Senior Division. My classmates and I were tasked to create an art piece that reflected key concepts as an anti-racist art educator. Above is a collage I made that delves into the exclusion and inequity entrenched within centralized school systems. Through mixed media, it sheds light on the reality faced by marginalized communities, often labeled as the "other."

This portrayal of the "other" underscores the historical relationship between British/white society and minorities, revealing Canada's loyalty to the Crown alongside its mistreatment of minority groups. The government's discriminatory practices within the public education system reflect ingrained biases and bureaucratic power dynamics.

The imagery depicts the struggle of Black communities for equal education and fair treatment. Silhouetted figures beneath the railroad symbolize African Americans' journey to freedom in Canada, only to encounter unequal treatment and denial of proper education. Meanwhile, the figure clad in a parka holds a stack of books, symbolizing the invaluable gift of knowledge. Below, the disfigured white face represents Canadian-Anglo society's ongoing influence in marginalizing unwanted groups.

Reflecting on my experience in the Teaching Visual Arts course at York University, I've learned the importance of being an anti-racist educator. Broadening our cultural perspective allows us to teach without bias, continuously unlearning our own biases. It entails developing units that are not solely Eurocentric, but also incorporating art forms from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds worldwide. As educators, it's our responsibility to expand students' knowledge beyond the "white lens," providing inclusive information and resources that enrich their lives.

Sources:

Rizza, A. (2019, June 17). Ontario schools relying on fundraising creates

inequities for students: report. National Post.

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-newspmn/ontario-schools relying-on-fundraising-creates-inequities-for-students-report