Current Events > B.C. Principal apologizes for "Slave Day" and blackface yearbook photo

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https://bc.ctvnews.ca/slave-day-at-b-c-school-prompts-apologies-from-principal-superintendent-1.4979220
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/blackface-photo-from-chilliwack-yearbook-prompts-apology-promises-to-change-1.4978468

SURREY, B.C. -- It happened back when she was in middle school.
It was a fundraising event during which students were bought and sold as "slaves," former student Layla Mohammed said.
The so-called "Slave Day" happened back in 2007 at Rosedale Traditional Middle School in Chilliwack, B.C., now called Rosedale Traditional Community School.

"The thing that really stands out most is remembering a specific teacher putting a leash and a collar on a student and walking them down the hallway, telling them to walk like a dog, crawl on the hallway floor while all the other students were laughing and making a mockery of it," Mohammed told CTV News Wednesday.
"At the time, it didn't mean much to me. I just thought it was strange," she said, adding she had supressed the incident in her mind for years.
Mohammed has been taking part in anti-racism rallies in Vancouver, and says she now understands just how wrong that school event was.

Another former student and friend of Mohammed says she also thinks it was wrong.
Cassie Robertson was one of the students who both bought slaves and was bought by others.
"It is showing us a sense of systemic racism that was taking place in my hometown, unfortunately, and it was something we didn't recognize at the time, but looking back now I see the issues with it and it was not OK," Robertson said.
"It just leaves me absolutely gutted. I had no idea anyone at our school could feel that way about this and that shows my own ignorance. And I feel extremely sorry for any the students that feel any disrespect," Robertson said.
"I really extend my apologies to Layla and any of the other students because I was part of the leadership that put that on at the time."
The now-principal of the middle school has posted an apology on the school website.
"We acknowledge that this did take place. We also acknowledge that it was wrong. I want to reassure our community that this event no longer takes place and has not for some time," wrote Paula Joran, principal at Rosedale Traditional Community.
The Chilliwack school board's superintendent, Rohan Arul-pragasam, has also issued an apology, saying slave day "is wrong. And just as it is wrong today, it was wrong then. We take responsibility for that and I unreservedly apologize on behalf of the district for that event."
Social media posts about the former "slave day" sparked anger online.
Robertson said she thinks the teachers involved didn't know better at the time.
"Both of them were both genuine, whole-hearted people. Racist? I would never put that label on either of them," she said.
But Mohammed says the teachers should publicly apologize or lose their jobs.

Canada: The Great White North

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How bout you fucking resign

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We also had a slave day in our High School in Manitoba. Changed the name of it around 2000 to like, Adopt a Tot. The grade 12's would bid on have Grade 9 "Slaves" for the day as a fundraiser for grad.

The event no longer exists.

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We had something similar in school called servant day where freshmen would buy seniors and dress them up funny to fundraise.

But yeah. Chilliwack, and especially that area of the city are pretty strong Bible country. Not exactly surprised.

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teaching this to grade school kids is sick

Captain_Qwark posted...

A teacher at the elementary I went to growing up got in trouble a couple years ago because the school did a play about Abraham Lincoln's life and she made all the black students be slaves and wouldn't let them be anything else.

Yeeeeeeikes, they could've just omitted that aspect

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Man, Canada sure love their blackface

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Slavery wasn't abolished in the British Empire until 1834. For some reason, I thought it was earlier.

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So was it in surrey or chilliwack?

Chilliwack wouldnt be that shocking, surrey would be a surprise, pretty sure whites are a minority in surrey, especially at tamanawis or PM
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GoodOlJr posted...

So was it in surrey or chilliwack?

Chilliwack wouldnt be that shocking, surrey would be a surprise, pretty sure whites are a minority in surrey, especially at tamanawis or PM

Rosedale middle school is in Chilliwack, near the highway turnoff for Agassiz. It's a farming area that is predominantly white and Christian.

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I see, I could never see this happening now, but 2007 is when I graduated, I could maybe see this happening

I dont have much to add, its a bit messed I guess
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How the fuck do people even come up with this crap?

GoodOlJr posted...

So was it in surrey or chilliwack?

Chilliwack wouldnt be that shocking, surrey would be a surprise, pretty sure whites are a minority in surrey, especially at tamanawis or PM

Never thought I'd see a tamanawis or PM name drop on gamefaqs

Hummer 2 posted...

Never thought I'd see a tamanawis or PM name drop on gamefaqs

Loll, i got to

I didnt go there though, im from north delta
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My high school had a slave auction every year. Grade 12 students could volunteer to be bidded on by other students and the funds went to the graduation budget. There were certain restrictions on what the slaves could do for their "masters" but it was not a big deal at all at the time. I don't know if they still do it.

NeonOctopus posted...

Man, Canada sure love their blackface

Lol my first thought

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Back in my school. We have Junior Servant Day where the other grades bought the Juniors.

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lol damn I had no idea it was this common

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Humble reminder that the Canadian Prime Minister doesnt know how many times hes worn brownface.

Kami_no_Kami posted...

Humble reminder that the Canadian Prime Minister doesnt know how many times hes worn brownface.

fucking WOW so progressive!

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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

We also had a slave day in our High School in Manitoba. Changed the name of it around 2000 to like, Adopt a Tot. The grade 12's would bid on have Grade 9 "Slaves" for the day as a fundraiser for grad.

The event no longer exists.

I never heard of anything like that when I went to school in Ontario.

But to be fair, I didn't pay much attention. I spend most of my time in high school doped outta my gourd.
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NeonOctopus posted...

Man, Canada sure love their blackface

https://youtu.be/ZriIkj6IgFw
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UnfairRepresent posted...

https://youtu.be/ZriIkj6IgFw

LMFAO

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UnfairRepresent posted...

https://youtu.be/ZriIkj6IgFw

lol

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