Reading Between the Lines: A Critical Analysis of Anti-Discrimination Policy in Greater Toronto Area Schools

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Policies, Mattering and Praxis: Research in the Social Context of Education within Schools

Abstract

This paper critically analyzes anti-discrimination and anti-racism education policies from three school districts in the Greater Toronto Area. Using Critical Race Theory, BlackCrit, and Black feminist thought, we examine how these policies address anti-Blackness, engage different audiences, and employ Pro-Black language. Through critical race discourse analysis, we find that while the policies often name systemic racism, they are frequently reactionary, inconsistently aligned with BlackCrit, and lack a coherent vision of Black joy or structural transformation. The policies shift tone depending on their intended audience and often reflect institutional risk management rather than justice. This study highlights the importance of centering Black epistemologies and calls for policies that are both contextually grounded and co-authored with Black communities.

Authors

• Tianna Dowie-Chin, University of Georgia

• Lora Smothers, University of Georgia