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Liberian Youth Speak: Life Histories of Young Former Refugees and Their Interactions with the Canadian School System by Mark

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Liberian Youth Speak: Life Histories of Young Former Refugees and Their Interactions with the Canadian School System by Mark Liberian Youth Speak: Life histories of young former refugees and their interactions with the Canadian school system by Mark Robert Sinke A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Graduate Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto © Copyright by Mark Sinke 2012 LIBERIAN YOUTH SPEAK: LIFE HISTORIES OF YOUNG FORMER REFUGEES AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE CANADIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM Master of Arts (2012) Mark Robert Sinke Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning University of Toronto Abstract This study explores the interactions of four Liberian youth with the public education system in Ontario since their arrival as refugees. Using life histories developed with each participant, I have sought to understand and engage with the ways that these students negotiate their social and personal identities within the context of the majority discourses and practices of education in Ontario. By foregrounding the experiences and voices of the participants, it becomes possible to critically analyze the power relations that exist both to limit and empower these youth as they navigate their social and educational contexts. It becomes clear in the life histories that society’s dominant discourses of normalcy work to ignore or make irrelevant the complex identities that these youth inhabit and exhibit in their daily lives. However, they creatively exercise their individual agency to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities they feel are available to them in Canada. ii Acknowledgments I am extremely thankful that God has given me the opportunity and strength to complete this work. It would never have even started if it weren’t for the tremendous encouragement and belief of my wife, Christine. Thank you for journeying through it all and for the words that kept me going, “You can do it, Mark.” I would like to also acknowledge and thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Diane Gérin- Lajoie, for her wisdom and guidance, and also her flexibility and understanding as I went through the process of completing this project. Thanks also to Dr. Jim Cummins for providing helpful guidance and support while being the second reader for this work. I credit the inspiration for my studies to the boys of United FC, and I thank you all for going through so much with me and beside me: Amos, Awer, Beikai, Darlington, Ephraim, Farai, Fazl, Felipe, Izuba, Joel, Jose, Korha, Larry, Manuel, Mohssin, Nati, Reza, Sokiri, and Yosef. Special acknowledgment must be given to Leo Nupolu Johnson. I thank you, brother, for your wisdom, opinions, thoughts, reflections, patience and help as I stumbled along in this endeavor. Some very important members of my family supported me through this journey in many ways, and I would like to acknowledge and thank Darren and Meagan for your never- ending encouragement, and Alex, Kathryn, and Sarah for all you have done to support me through this. Thank you very much to Daniel, Promise, Junior and Willifred for opening up to me, sharing your experiences and your wisdom with me, and for being courageous enough to make your stories known. Finally, thank you to Lemuel and Khia, this work is dedicated to you. iii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................iv Chapter One – Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Summary and background .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Gap in the research ........................................................................................................................ 5 Chapter Two – Conceptual Framework .................................................................................... 8 2.1 Critical Research............................................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Postcolonial Thought .................................................................................................................. 10 2.3 Power Relations ............................................................................................................................ 12 2.4 Dominant Discourses and Hegemony ................................................................................... 15 Chapter Three - Literature Review ......................................................................................... 18 3.1 Refugee Resettlement ................................................................................................................. 18 3.2 Identity ............................................................................................................................................ 21 3.2.1 Ethnic and Racial Identity ......................................................................................................................... 22 3.2.2 National Identity ............................................................................................................................................ 25 3.2.3 Language and Identity ................................................................................................................................ 27 3.2.4 Migration and Identity ................................................................................................................................ 29 3.3 Otherness ........................................................................................................................................ 30 3.4 Schooling, Diversity, and Multicultural Education ............................................................. 32 3.4.1 Diversity in Education................................................................................................................................. 34 3.4.2 Examining Diversity – Language issues in education .................................................................. 35 Chapter Four – Methodology ..................................................................................................... 42 4.1 Life History .................................................................................................................................... 44 4.1.1 Issues of Narration ....................................................................................................................................... 45 4.1.2 Issues of Truthfulness ................................................................................................................................. 46 4.1.3 Issues of Representation ........................................................................................................................... 48 4.1.4 The Life History Interview ........................................................................................................................ 49 4.2 Specifics of the Study ................................................................................................................... 50 iv 4.2.1 Participant recruitment and interviewing ........................................................................................ 51 4.2.2 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 55 4.3 Reflexivity and Self Analysis ..................................................................................................... 58 Chapter Five – Liberian Context ............................................................................................... 60 5.1 Liberian Historical Context ....................................................................................................... 60 5.2 Resettlement of Liberians in Canada...................................................................................... 67 Chapter Six – Life Histories ........................................................................................................ 69 6.1 Daniel’s Life Story ........................................................................................................................ 69 6.1.1 Early Life in Liberia ...................................................................................................................................... 69 6.1.2 Refugee Experience ...................................................................................................................................... 71 6.1.3 Migration to Canada ..................................................................................................................................... 77 6.1.4 Life in Canada .................................................................................................................................................. 80 6.1.5 Summary Remarks ....................................................................................................................................... 86 6.2 Promise’s Life Story ....................................................................................................................
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