Why Edmonton Fostering anti-racism in education

“One of the main reasons I became a teacher is to be the representation I wanted so badly growing up,” she says. “My late twin brother, David, chose his field of journalism for the same reason.”  (Editor’s note: David passed away in June 2013 from Lupus. A leadership scholarship has been set up in his name). 

“I was so lucky that school wasn’t a challenge for me,” Adomako-Ansah continues. “I know that privilege isn’t afforded to others. My siblings and I were well-liked and academically strong. Once I graduated from Archbishop MacDonald in 2007, my path was clear: I wanted to be a principal.” 

She sat down with us to share her insights on Black History Month, her journey as an educator and her involvement with the Black Teachers Association of Alberta, The Black Bookshelf Project and Canadian Human Rights Museum.

Q: You also created the Pass the Mic: Let’s Talk About Racism project while you were the Educator In Residence for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. What does this project hope to achieve?

Sarah: One of the highlights of my career thus far has been holding the role of Educator in Residence at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights for two years. I learned so much in that space about Canada’s history, human rights education, Indigenous ways of knowing and so much more. I also learned so much about myself and what is truly important to me in this space. 

I was hired in this role to support the Museum’s efforts regarding anti-racism education. From that, Pass the Mic: Let’s Talk About Racism was created. I think it’s important to give people the microphone to tell their own stories rather than have their stories told by others. My sincere hope is that, not for this moment in time, but for the future of education, students learn to listen to one another, unlearn harmful stereotypes and language, become allies for each other and have pride in themselves and where they come from.

Q: The project also features fellow Edmontonian, Olympic bobsledder Dawn Richardson Wilson. What does it mean for your students to see a young athlete from Edmonton succeed on the global stage?

Sarah: Getting to meet Dawn was so special. We both grew up in the Edmonton Catholic School Division and have ancestry from Ghana, a country in West Africa. Getting to hear about her success, from her, was so powerful. 

Our conversation was more than just me asking her questions; it was two Black women relating to one another, understanding one another and being one another’s cheerleaders. She’s on a global stage doing something so impressive and challenging and staying so humble, kind, and grounded. I think her influence will inspire, especially for Black girls, which is my sincere hope. I will cherish that moment with her for a very long time.