A love letter to Black students: part 1
It was an honour and absolute privilege to share space with four colleagues that exude Black excellence. Patricia Codner, Tracey Grose, Toni Lauzon, and Joyce Erogun agreed to share some of their lived experiences and words of wisdom with us. This conversation reflected diverse experiences. It showed that Blackness is not a monolith, and that unity is found through acknowledging our similarities and our differences. All of which should be celebrated.
This blog post is the first in a series of four posts developed from the conversation.
Meet our colleagues
Patricia Codner
My name is Patricia Codner, and I’m currently at School Mental Health Ontario as the parent and caregiver engagement and literacy consultant on secondment* from the Halton Catholic District School Board as the chief social worker. I am a Black woman, a daughter. I’m a mother, a wife, an auntie, a friend, and a colleague.
Joyce Erogun
My name is Joyce Erogun. I’m a consultant at School Mental Health Ontario, in the role of student and parent/caregiver engagement team lead. My pronouns are she/her. I’m a Nigerian first-generation Canadian woman. I’m an older sister, a friend, and a partner.
Toni Lauzon
Toni Lauzon. Pronouns are she/her. Self-identify as Afro-Indigenous, or Black and Mi’kmaw to be specific. I am an equity and identity-affirming mental health consultant and implementation coach here at School Mental Health Ontario on secondment* from Greater Essex District School Board.
Tracey Grose
My name is Tracey Grose, and I’m a school social worker for over 20 years in Whitby, Ontario. I am a cisgender female, with pronouns she/her. I’m of Jamaican ancestry and I’m the culturally responsive practices lead and an implementation co-coach here at School Mental Health Ontario, on secondment* from the Durham District School Board.
*Secondment means that the person is temporarily working for School Mental Health Ontario while still being considered an employee of their school board. It’s similar to an exchange program in school.
What message do you have for Black students?
Patricia: I preface by saying because for me it’s a reality… Despite the historical legacy, know that you are strong, worthy, valuable, and significant. You are more than enough. Your colour is beautiful, and you matter. Always remember you’re not inferior. Love your skin colour, your facial features, your hair – that makes you Black and beautiful.
In Black culture, hair is so much. It has been relegated to horrible names and thinking. So much so that we have to re-claim it. A lot of young girls in particular, self-deprecate because of their hair, and we know of other things that are happening right now in 2023, that Black women are doing to themselves in order to get closer to whiteness and that is sad for me.
You or others in your circle might be discouraged. Know that you can flourish with supports as needed to be your best self. So, self-advocacy is important in letting school staff know what you need to be successful or share what is hindering your ability to learn.
I encourage you to use the services and opportunities available to you for your best interests. Do not allow anyone to define who you are, rather be bold, and demonstrate your many gifts and talents. Let your talents shine; be proud of your Black heritage. Be your authentic self, and do not allow others to tell you how you should be.
You may be part of the generation who will live in a world where you’re not judged by the colour of your skin, but by the content of your character. That’s my dream for you.
Be kind in every moment. Be bold in your thoughts, and let your brilliance shine in all your actions, demonstrating the amazing human being you are.
I just want to end with a few little thoughts. Let’s celebrate that August is now proclaimed Emancipation Day in Canada, recognizing the abolition of slavery which has had a devastating impact on multiple generations of people of African descent. Self-love is a powerful vehicle, which bolsters our courage to keep moving forward with a positive mindset reminding us of our gifts. Remember you matter. Show your Blackness with pride. Self-love is also necessary to strengthen your mental health.
Remember you matter. Show your Blackness with pride.
Do not allow stigma to prevent you from getting the supports you need to be your best self.
Black Mental Health Week was proclaimed in March 2022. Canada now acknowledges this significance and outstanding historical and current contribution of Black Canadians. After 400 years, we’ve only just begun to do the work that’s required to end anti-Black racism and there’s a long way to go. So be gentle with yourself one day at a time. Keep moving forward. It’s also time to address the root cause of Black mental health issues. Do not allow stigma to prevent you from getting the supports you need to be your best self.
Toni: I felt like it was like a love letter to me. I’m not going to lie, I was like, I’m going to soak this up a little bit. Thank you, Patricia.
I think if I were talking to students, I would say, if you don’t know your history, they’re going tell it for us. I think it’s been my biggest superpower to be so grounded in my own Black history. I think, when the outward world has not validated me, it has been a blessing to be able to remind myself of where I’ve come from, who’s come before me, and how I carry that with me – how I carry them with me. It literally has been powerful to know who came before me – what their names are, the fight that they fought, the legacy that they left – it has rooted me and my family and to know that my children will be a part of this, because it’s a part of who I am.
Also, we can get pulled in so many different ways if we’re not grounded in who we are. And oftentimes when we look outward for that validation for who we are, we don’t receive it as Black people in the current society that we live in. So, fill yourselves up with your histories. Know yourself, know your history. It’s an important starting point. It literally gave me life and set me on this path forward. So, I think it’s so important.
Know yourself, know your history. It’s an important starting point.
Tracey: I was gonna keep it short and just say, I see you.
So, my message to Black students is I see you, be your authentic self, and speak your truth. Unapologetically, you belong here.
I see you, be your authentic self, and speak your truth.
Joyce: I love that! This is definitely filling up my cup as well… like my inner child is very happy right now.
My message to Black students is, you’re so cool, you are so unique and hold so much magic. Lean into yourself, your identity, your culture, your family, and your allies, when you know who you are, you are untouchable.
There is no one way to be, speak, look, or act Black
In my life, I felt like I’ve had to struggle you know, with different identities – who I am at home versus school, with my friends, in strange groups – and it was a challenge. But looking back, I think about all of the different parts of me, and that there is no one way to be, speak, look, or act Black. I realized later that challenge was due to the pressures around me, and people expecting me to be a certain way. So, break free of that.
There is no higher confidence that you can hold than knowing who you are and learning to be comfortable with it.
Thank you for reading through part one of this four part series. Check out the next post where we ask Patricia, Tracey, Toni and Joyce “What comes to mind when you think about Black history?” and “What does Black History Month mean to you?”
This conversation was facilitated by Elo Igor and Alina Medeiros.