Sh**t-hole countries

Last week the most powerful man on the planet, the President of the United States of America, referred to African countries, Haiti, and some South American countries as Sh**t-holes. He then went on to discuss how the country needed more people from Norway. 

This is something we had to discuss, since every single one of the students in my class are from one of those areas.  How can someone rationalize something like that? I've had to explain and define so many things since the the election (like dog whistle politics). Canada looks so civil right now.

We have discussed that everyone is prejudice, we all prejudge... that isn't the problem.  The problem is when you allow your prejudice to turn into discrimination. That's what the President did.
 
I'm aware that many US Presidents were bigoted and less that nuanced, but after WW2 their office called them to a greater purpose.
I feel we're setting out watches back 60 years.  My students deserve better.

If you feel that this is just an American thing? Any. TDSB US trips are cancelled due to the American travel ban. My students have family in the US and in these countries. If this doesn't bother you, you may have to check your ethical temperature.

My students deserve better.

Pecha Kucha

New Culminating Activity format.

African Studies Culminating Activity
PECHA KUCHA
You are responsible for creating a Pecha Kucha that summarizes the entire African studies course and ultimately answers the question, ‘What is Being Black in Canada?’. You can use pictures and images gathered throughout the year and anything you find that you feel would best represent the course and what you’ve learned.

What is a Pecha Kucha?
PechaKucha (Japanese: ペチャクチャ, IPA: [petɕa kɯ̥tɕa], chit-chat) is a presentation style in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each (6 minutes and 40 seconds in total). The format, which keeps presentations concise and fast-paced. Each slide will have both words and pictures, and, you will have to speak to each slide.

You will be graded on how well your presentation encapsulates the course and how well you have demonstrated an understanding of the information covered throughout the semester. You will also be graded on how well your images represent the court and how well your captions and discussions convey an understanding of the African Studies course from beginning to end.

This project is worth 15% of your total mark.