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Black History Month.
by the name, you could probably guess
that Black History Month is all about celebrating
the history of Black Canadians, right?
Well, yes, but the conversation is deep.
So let's get into it.
This is
OK, so here we are in 2022, celebrating the 27th
anniversary of Black History Month in Canada.
So if I do some math, that means Black History Month
started in... 1995.
Well, kind of.
I mean, officially in Canada, yes, but its history goes back
much farther than that
and takes us to a different country.
Black History Month has its origins in the United States
and goes all the way back to 1926.
A historian named Carter G. Woodson
proposed creating a dedicated time to celebrate
African-Americans and heighten awareness of Black history.
And he was a pretty big deal at the time.
Woodson was only the second African-American
to earn his Ph.D. from the prestigious
Harvard University.
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What he started with something called Negro History Week,
and it was celebrated until the 1970s when it became
Black History Week, and then in 1976
it became Black History Month.
Pretty cool, but that's a whole lot of American history.
Canadians were celebrating Black History Month as well,
but it wasn't until 1995 that things became official.
Now here is the name everyone should know,
Jean Augustine.
She is the main person responsible for getting
Black History Month in front of the Canadian government.
She is the first black Canadian woman ever elected
to parliament, and in 1995, she put forth a motion
to officially recognized February as Black History Month.
It was passed unanimously,
and not trying to brag or anything,
but I've actually met her.
I was on an intergenerational panel
for Black History Month with her, and yeah,
she is as cool as she sounds.
But it wasn't until 2008 that the Senate officially
approved it.
Senator Donald Oliver, the first black man to sit in the
Canadian Senate, introduced a motion that also received
unanimous approval, completing Canada's parliamentary position
of Black History Month.
OK, so we're done talking about how it began.
Now let's talk about Black history.
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When we talk about Black history,
we are really talking about the history of Canada
or as Crystal Webster, an assistant professor
of history at the
Black history is not distinct from Canadian history
or from history of North America.
It really is integral to this history.
It's impossible to speak about the history of Canada without
talking about, not only Black contributions,
but also the ways in which Canada should have
done better and can continue to do better.
Often when we talk about Black history
and told the story of Black people in North America,
there is a focus on enslavement and the story of enslaved
people and Dr, Webster says that is important.
It gives us the, the space to think about Canada's
relationship to Black oppression and the fact that
slavery did exist in Canada.
But it is also important to understand that
this is part of the Black history in Canada,
not the whole story.
Or as Christopher Taylor, an assistant professor of history
at the
If this is something that you're only being exposed
to for these 28 or 29 days, you're going to think that
all Black people, our history begins with enslavement,
begins with police shootings,
begins with this, you know, what we call
the dehumanization.
So the world sees us as lesser than somebody else.
However, when we're talking about Black History Month,
we can actually use this as an opportunity to start, just,
enjoying Black culture.
There are some amazing heroes
throughout Black history in Canada.
Take Mary Ann Shadd For example,
in 1853, she became the first Black woman to publish
a newspaper in North America.
Her paper, the
publication, and she was vital in giving a voice
to Black people.
And she's just one example.
There are so many amazing people throughout Black history
in Canada, like Mifflin Gibbs, who in 1866
and what is now British Columbia,
became the first Black person to be elected to public office,
or Willie O'Ree, who broke the colour barrier
in hockey when he became the first Black person
to play in the
Another interesting part of Black history in Canada
is the idea that it represents the stories of the entire.
Black community.
We say, Black History Month, Black community,
as if Black people are just one thing,
we completely ignore those so many differences
between Black communities, especially in Canada,
we think, OK, well, if you're Black, you speak English.
But if you're Black, you could speak Arabic, French,
Spanish, Portuguese, all as your first language.
We all didn't come from Jamaica.
You could come from Antigua, Anguilla, Cuba, Ghana, Nigeria,
even if you came from Nigeria, Igbo, you could be Yoruba.
Ainara:
of notable Black communities
throughout our history, like Africville in Halifax,
Little Burgundy in Montreal, North Buxton in Ontario,
Amber Valley in Alberta, Hogan's Alley in Vancouver.
Each of these communities have their own stories, backgrounds
and diversity that makes up the Black community in Canada.
OK, but Black History Month isn't only about the past.
Lots of people are talking about the present
and the future.
Let's start with the future.
There is an idea called Black Futures Month,
and the idea is to draw focus during February
to what is happening now in Canada,
and where it's going?
At the
they are celebrating something called Black history
and Black futures, and Marium Tolson Murtty
is directing the celebration.
I thought it was really important to establish
a committee to talk not just about Black history,
but Black futures.
Black History Month isn't just about celebrating the history,
it's about celebrating the present and the future,
And a huge part of celebrating Black futures
is young people, just like we talked about heroes
all throughout Black history in Canada,
part of celebrating Black futures is talking about
young heroes who are making a difference today,
like 16 year old Kayla Escoffery, for example.
She's a member of an organization called Black
York Region Youth.
which is a program designed to combat anti-Black racism
in the York Region, but also across the GTA.
She's also the founder of the Black Student Association
at her high school and founded her own nonprofit
called
First began with just the conversation.
So we brought all these Black girls together over Zoom
and we just started talking about hair and representation
and colourism.
There was a way for them to connect
and have a community around them.
What do we want to see happen in the world,
as well as what can we do as Black girls ourselves
to make a difference in the world as well?
She thinks it's important for young people
to start making their own history.
I think it's important that youth make sure
that their voices are heard.
But I also think it's also the duty of adults to look for kids
and ask for their opinions and their voice as well.
And Dr. Taylor says there's another way you can
celebrate Black History Month in a more contemporary
and personal way.
One thing we need to understand is that
whatever happened yesterday, it's history.
Whatever happened a week ago is history.
Whatever is going to happen tomorrow is the future.
Your teachers, your coaches, your tutors, they're all
a part of Black history.
So these are what I want people to understand to write down
these stories, listen to these stories.
You don't have to have a famous name out there,
but everybody's very important, your family, your parents,
guardians, your siblings.
You are a part of Black history.
And as amazing as it is for there to be an official month
to celebrate Black history and the contributions
of Black Canadians, many people think
there used to be a more sustained focus beyond
the month of February.
And I think that that's such an important conversation
for us to have year round, like you said,
and that the people are doing the work year round
and we really want to celebrate that young people
and adults alike.
It doesn't mean Black History Month is a bad thing.
It's a great starting point for a more in-depth,
sustained, impactful conversation about
Black history and Black Canadians throughout the year.
OK, so now we know where Black History Month started,
what people are talking about, what we should be talking
more about, and where Black History Month
and Black futures are headed.
That's it for
For
We did a lot of research and spoke to some amazing people
to help us produce this video.
I interviewed Christopher Taylor,
he's an assistant professor of history at the
of Waterloo.
He's also the associate vice president of equity,
diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
Crystal Webster is an assistant professor of history
at the
Marium Tolson Murtty is the director of
Organizational Change
Kayla Escoffery is a high school student, founder of
Young Melanin and Feminine
and a member of Black York Region Youth.
We also consulted with people to help us research
and shape this video.
They are: Chris Wilson...
We also reference information from...
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