Developer’s Name:

Dr. Dolana Mogadime, PhD., M.Ed., B.Ed., OCT

Audience:

Grade 10 Civics, Grade 11 Civics Open, Grade 11 History Open

Lesson Description – Overview:

The lessons will take place over 10 days. Students are introduced to oral history as a historical inquiry that is useful across disciplines. Oral histories support essay writing in history, the social sciences, humanities (e.g., gender studies, women’s studies) social justice and human rights. Oral histories are considered ‘primary sources.’ Typically, additional sources are used to expand on and confirm an oral history interview. For example, additional interviews provided by people who experienced the same phenomena can be included. Secondary sources may be incorporated, for example, newspaper articles, editorial opinion pieces, research articles and books that have been published on the topic.

After reading excerpts from the oral history interviews provided by Caroline Goodie Tshabalala Mogadime, students will conduct searches for the topics she raised, such as: ‘boycott of Bata Shoes during apartheid’ and/or; ‘boycott of Canadian companies and disinvestment in apartheid’; ‘contributions of churches and NGOs in the anti-apartheid coalition building in Canada.’ Students will examine the connections between the human rights defender and intersectionality. In terms of future careers, learning how to conduct and analyze oral history interviews can be very useful for the journalist, “aid worker, archivist, curator, educator, film maker, game designer, policy analyst, politician, researcher, social worker.”[1]

Lesson Objectives:

  • To appreciate the contributions of South African Canadians to the anti-apartheid movement in Canada
  • To be introduced to oral history as an inquiry for a variety of content areas such as: history; social sciences; humanities (e.g., gender studies, women’s studies) social justice and human rights
  • To understand the usefulness in doing oral histories
  • To recognize that oral history creates and contributes to knowledge about history and the contribution of people who would not otherwise be included
  • To cultivate respect for the person providing the oral history through a cultural relevant approach identified as ubuntu
  • To appreciate and respect people who agree to be interviewed and provide their oral history narrative and know what the validity process is and what member checking involves
  • To examine the connections between the human rights defender and intersectionality

Relevant Ontario Curriculum:

  • C1 Civic Contributions: analyze a variety of contributions and ways in which people can contribute to the common good (Focus on Significance, Stability and Change)
  • C1.1 Assess the significance, both in Canada and internationally of some individuals (involvement in social action groups)
  • A. HISTORICAL INQUIRY AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
    Throughout this course, students will:

    • A1. Use the historical inquiry process and the concepts of historical thinking when investigating the history of the selected ethnic group.
    • A1.2 Select and organize relevant evidence and information on aspects of the history of the selected ethnic group from a variety of primary and secondary sources (e.g., primary: artefacts, oral histories, period newspapers, photographs, secondary: books and/or articles from the library, classroom text-books, documentaries or other films, current newspapers, websites), ensuring that their sources reflect different perspectives.
    • A1.3 Assess the credibility of sources and information relevant to their investigations (e.g., by considering the perspective, bias, accuracy, purpose, and context of the source and the values and expertise of its author).
    • A2. Developing Transferable Skills: apply in everyday contexts skills developed through historical investigation and identify careers in which these skills might be useful.
    • A2.4 Identify some careers in which the skills learned in history background might be useful (e.g., aid worker, archivist, curator, educator, film maker, game designer, policy analyst, politician, researcher, social worker)

Relevant Ontario Curriculum Documents

Keywords:

Apartheid; oppression; boycotts; disinvestment; civic participation; intersectionality and Black women; ubuntu a culturally relevant approach to honoring the oral history interviewee; human rights; human rights abuses; racism; racial oppression; white supremacy; white supremacy as oppressive

Human Rights Instruments:

Resources:

Lesson Plan Details by Stages of African Epistemology:

Day 1

Activate

Reflect

Activate, Reflect, Connect, Communicate

Day 2

Connect, Communicate

Connect, Communicate

Day 3

Connect, Communicate

Connect, Communicate

Day 4

Connect

Day 5-7

Connect

Reflect

Day 8-10

Communicate

  1. The current publication includes the reproduction of the following: Mogadime, D. (2021, December). “Recognizing Canadian Heroes”: Caroline Goodie Tshabalala Mogadime, Oral history accounts and Self- Representation about a South African Woman’s Contributions to the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Canada. CC BY-NC-ND https://secure3.ed.brocku.ca/dolanamogadime/activisteducator/

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Mandela Global Human Rights: Peace, Reconciliation and Responsibility Copyright © by Dolana Mogadime (Ed.) Project Lead is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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