Project Overview

In 2016, there were around 1.2 million Black people in Canada, including 100,245 Black youths ages 15 to 19. Alberta has the fastest growing population of Black people in Canada: in 2016, there were 57,815 Black people in Edmonton, and the number is growing. Black youths experience social, economic, and health inequities in Canada, and are less likely to attain a post-secondary qualification. Among Black boys aged 13 to 17 in 2006, approximately half had a postsecondary qualification in 2016, compared with 62% of other boys, and this has been declining since 2011. Young Black males were nearly twice as likely as other young males to not be employed, attending school, or completing job training. Attitudes of teachers towards Black youths, the lack of African-Canadian history and culture in the educational curriculum, systemic anti-Black racism, and the lack of mentors contribute to poor educational outcomes, which translate to poorer economic outcomes and less food and job security. Black-focused education can improve the economic outcomes of Black youths. Furthermore, strong evidence indicates mentorship is effective across behavioral, social, emotional, and academic domains of youth development. To address these challenges, the United Nations recommends Canada should “strengthen Afrocentric education curricula”. Our project addresses this recommendation. Proponents of Afrocentric educational programs assert that Black youths suffer from low self-esteem, which leads to low school performance, but that they can be motivated toward high achievement by studying their history. Research also shows that alienation and expulsion rates decrease and self-esteem and university attendance rates increase when Black students are taught by Black teachers.