>> Jeyan: Black history month began this week.
And though the name might suggest it's mostly about looking back at past events,
it's also very much about looking forward.
Ashley Okwuosa is TVO's diversity and inclusion reporter and joins us now from the
provincial capital to explain.
Hello, Ashley.
>> Ashley: Hi, Jeyan.
>> Jeyan: So black history month began in Canada in 1995.
How exactly did it come about?
>> Ashley: So I was actually able to speak to Dr. augustine who as a member of Parliament in
1995 brought forward the vote to officially designate February as black history month.
The vote passed unanimously and Dr. augustine pointed out that at the time social justice
issues were issues that really affected black Canadians front and centre but for her she
wanted to wreck black history month was really about, you know, making sure that the truth
in the experiences of black people in Canada were recognized and to make sure that in school
the history of black people in Canada, the migration of black people in Canada.
The contributions of black people in Canada and the diversity of black people in
Canada were really recognized.
>> Jeyan: So now let's fast forward.
It's fairly engrained in Canadian culture that February is black history month.
How can we guard against it becoming a thing to do rather than a meaningful commemoration
or a call to action for change?
>> Ashley: Yeah, I think that the conversations about the realities of black people today
is really incredibly important.
And you kind of alluded to that in the beginning of the month is called black history month.
And one to encourage us to look back but it would be a disservice to look back without
acknowledging that black people are still advocating for certain things and acknowledging how
racism still affects people today.
I think by looking at the past we shouldn't delude ourselves into thinking that we're in a
post racial society.
I think we still need to acknowledge that there is a lot of work to be done.
>> Jeyan: Let's talk about that work.
There are a number of organizations that during this month, you know, put together,
you know, sort of statements and such like that.
But I want to talk from a media standpoint because we're reporters.
How can media organizations who are marking this month help advance progress toward
eliminating anti black racism but also talking a little bit about what you said about making
sure that we talk about not just the history but moving that forward.
>> Ashley: Yeah, I think work done by media organizations that commemorates this month should
be done all year around.
That includes hiring one black reporter or two black reporters in a news room.
I would say that to truly reflect the diversity of black experience in a place like that
or like Ontario, news rooms really should try to look like the communities that they're
covering.
You know, and when media organizations do hire black journalists they should listen
to them and support them.
When it comes to the stories that these media organizations are telling about black people,
you know, I think that we -- and I say "we" all of us journalists included shouldn't necessarily
rely on stereotypes about black people.
We should be thinking outside the box.
We should be telling stories about black innovation.
I think there is so much focus on the struggle this month is not just about the struggle.
Black people experience is not just about the struggle.
>> Jeyan: Let's talk about progress.
Obviously from 1995 to now, what progress has come out of whack history month, do you think?
>> Ashley: That's a big question.
And I think it's only been four days this year.
So I don't know, you know B.
this year and I don't think anyone knows yet.
But I would say in the last two or so years with the pandemic, with the unfortunate high
profile deaths of black people both in the U.S. and Canada I would like to think that more
people would be willing and open to having more conversations about lasting change and not
just performative but real change.
>> Jeyan: Let's talk about some of the articles you have coming out this month.
You are writing one about something a lot of people don't know about it's called the
Scarborough Charter.
Tell us about that and how it sort of came to be.
>> Ashley: The Scarborough Charter is being described as the first national action plan
to tackle anti black racism in higher education.
About 50 -- about 51 post-secondary institutions have signed on and the Charter has
four principles that aim to confront black racism on campus.
For example, one of these looks like inclusive excellence or is called inclusive excellence.
According to the Charter this can be done by recruiting and supporting black Canadian
programs in classrooms and really developing access to create pathways for education of
black students in the community.
>> Jeyan: Sometimes when post-secondary institutions release statements on anti black
racism it can feel performative when we talk about post-secondary institutions and
talk about the Scarborough Charter, what are actual things happening?
Are there tangible things?
>> Ashley: Yeah, so I would say that in the last year or so, a number of post-secondary
institutions in Ontario have put forth action plans, have put together task forces, the
University of Windsor, for example, has put together an anti-black racism task force
that at the end of last year I believe brought forward recommendations that included
creating spaces for black students, collecting demographic data, things like that and also
one thing to point out with the University of Windsor is that the task force is also made up
of students and black students.
So I think that making sure that black students have their voices or concerns heard is one thing
that universities are doing.
Some institutions are also making sure to create offices, real hire -- I guess higher
office positions or administrative positions with the focus on diversity, equity
and inclusion so that people in those positions can actually effect change.
>> Jeyan: I also understand you are working on some articles and Q&As but also an article about
female black voices in political circles.
Tell us a little bit about that.
>> Ashley: Sure.
Thanks for asking.
The story is really about the experience of black women in politics in Ontario.
I have spoken to a number of women who have run for office at different levels in the province
and were really talking about what their experience has been in the election process when
they did get into office.
And also talking to experts about what's the importance of having black women and their
voices in these political spaces and what can we do increase participation?
And how is it that having black women in these spaces, actually, how does that reflect on voters?
How does that encourage us in any way.
>> Jeyan: Ashley I want to thank you so much for this I look forward to all of the work you
have coming up this month but, of course, the conversation that should continue well beyond
February.
Thank you very much.
>> Ashley: Thank you, Jeyan.