When selecting resources, educators should keep in mind the needs and concerns outlined by students in the Ministry Review:

1. Students advocated for the inclusion of Black histories and Black excellence within the curriculum and resources throughout the school year, across subjects, and not just during Black History Month. They stressed the need for educators to teach the full story, moving beyond the current “white savior” narratives or the water-downed understanding of racism. Furthermore, teaching about Black histories should not be based on the starting point of slavery, and should be intentional about including the history of people of colour in Canada. Within the focus groups, students also advocated for changes to the curriculum while commenting on the stereotypes and biases that are provided in the examples that teachers use during class lessons.

2. Black histories and Black History Month were seen as add-ons to the curriculum, elements that in turn were dismissed due to a more pressing priority: the pandemic. However, students proposed that discussions on Black individuals and cultures do not only need to occur during Black History Month.

3. Students proposed additional recommendations that would demonstrate their school’s commitment to improving the experiences of African, Afro-Caribbean, and Black students. These include:

• Teachers listening to and honouring Black students’ voices.

• The creation of safe spaces where “racialized students talk about their experiences or talk about what they've been through in the past or the present. Or you know, discuss the impacts and what they want to see differently.”