February 2024
Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities.
The 2024 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”. This theme celebrates the rich past and present contributions and accomplishments of Black people in Canada, while aspiring to embrace new opportunities for the future.
The theme aligns with the 10th year of the International Decade for People of African Descent and recognizes that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.
No matter where you live, we invite all Canadians to learn more about Black Canadian communities, and how they continue to help shape Canada. In the hopes that you may find some helpful information to begin or continue learning about these important concepts, we’ve compiled a list of resources and information on both Black History events and notable individuals to learn from.
Web pages to check out:
Government of Canada; Canadian Heritage: this page contains information on Black History Month in Canada, noteworthy figures in Canadian history, information on Black history organizations and educational resources, highlighted insight into the role of Black Canadian women, details of some significant events in Black Canadian history, and further information on the International Decade for People of African Descent.
The Canadian Encyclopedia; Timeline of Black History: this interactive webpage provides a chronological timeline of stories, experiences, and accomplishments of people of African origin who had an impact on Canada. They have highlighted that Black history did not begin in recent times in Canada, but in ancient times in Africa.
Ontario Black History Society; The Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) is a registered Canadian charity, dedicated to the study, preservation and promotion of Black History and heritage. The Society aims to encourage public interest in Black History through the:
- Recognition and documentation of the contributions of peoples of African descent and their collective histories, past and present, through education, research and collaboration.
- Development and support of educational initiatives and exhibits.
- Inclusion of Black History material in school curricula.
Black Screen Office; The Black Screen Office helps build a screen industry free of anti-Black racism, by working with industry decision makers to change practices and build systems for accountability, directly catalyzing the production of Black-led content and supporting the career advancement of Black professionals.
Black History Month: 8 Canadian documentaries to watch this month; “This collection of Canadian documentaries highlights eight stories about the Black experience in this country – from an archaeological dig that uncovers how enslaved people were guided to freedom in Canada through an upscale hotel in Niagara Falls, to a cross-country journey that pulls back the curtain on racism in Canada.” All eight documentaries are available to watch for free on CBC Gem.
Books you might enjoy:
Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan; “When two English brothers arrive at a Barbados sugar plantation, they bring with them a darkness beyond what the slaves have already known. Washington Black – an eleven year-old field slave – is horrified to find himself chosen to live in the quarters of one of these men. But the man is not as Washington expects him to be. His new master is the eccentric Christopher Wilde – naturalist, explorer, inventor and abolitionist – whose obsession to perfect a winged flying machine disturbs all who know him. Washington is initiated into a world of wonder: a world where the night sea is set alight with fields of jellyfish, where a simple cloth canopy can propel a man across the sky, where even a boy born in chains may embrace a life of dignity and meaning – and where two people, separated by an impossible divide, can begin to see each other as human.”
Butter Honey Pig Bread, by Francesca Ekwuyasi; “Butter Honey Pig Bread is a story of choices and their consequences, of motherhood, of the malleable line between the spirit and the mind, of finding new homes and mending old ones, of voracious appetites, of queer love, of friendship, faith, and above all, family.”
The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power; by Desmond Cole, “A bracing, provocative, and perspective-shifting book from one of Canada’s most celebrated and uncompromising writers, Desmond Cole. The Skin We’re In will spark a national conversation, influence policy, and inspire activists.”
40 books by Black Canadian authors to read – a list of books by Black Canadian authors complied by CBC Books. This list was last updated on August 1, 2023.
Many public libraries compile reading lists for adults and children to highlight Black authors and stories during February, and many host events as well. We would suggest checking your local library’s website to see if they have any materials.
Podcasts by Black creators:
The Business Mindset Podcast; A podcast that amplifies stories of Black entrepreneurs in Canada and makes educational business literacy content accessible for BIPOC Canadians ages 18 to 35. Hosted by Nina Barango and brought to you by SoPlugged.
The Drip Podcast; The podcast where academics of color sit around and discuss great books. “We’re all about the spoilers and not about the summaries.”
The Secret Life of Canada; “The Secret Life of Canada is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don’t. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land. Season 4 launches February 3, 2022, with episodes releasing twice a month.”
Black Canadian Creators; “Black Canadian Creators is a show that is perfect for anyone looking to start their journey or get inspired by fellow content creators. Hosted by Facebook community founder and podcast host/producer Sherley Joseph in this seasonal interview-style series. Spotlighting a wide range of online or offline Canadian creatives who identify as Black, African, Africadian, Caribbean, or Mixed originators living in Canada or ex-pat creators living abroad. Learn from new or veteran Bloggers, Podcasters, Journalists, Authors, Writers, YouTubers, Photographers, Videographers, Directors, Musicians, Visual Artists, Producers, Content Strategists, Influencers, and more. Discussing who they are, how they started, where they are going on their content journey, sharing their tips and inspirations.”
Blogs to explore:
Re-Imagining Black History Month: An Equity-Informed Approach; A blog post by KOJO Institute, a leading consultancy that partners with organizations to unlock their potential by navigating the challenges connected to equity, bias, diversity, inclusion anti-oppression and anti-racism.
Excerpt – “Across Canada, organizations and institutions spend February celebrating the accomplishments, contributions, and culture of Black Canadians. Corporations often recognize African, Black, and Caribbean food, art, music, and customs and integrate these acknowledgements into their marketing efforts. Government bodies plan events to acknowledge Black changemakers and notable figures who helped to shape Canadian history. Schools host assemblies to honour prominent Black alumni and community members and introduce elements of Black history to their curricula.
These observances are all important ways of acknowledging the impact Black Canadians continue to have on this nation. But they are not enough. Current approaches to Black history month typically fail to look beyond the surface. They sanitize uncomfortable truths about the history of Black people in Canada and the way those realities contribute to the present-day inequities Black Canadians face.”
This Black History Month, I’m sharing my “DEI Don’ts”; A blog post from Lead With Inclusion by Stacey A. Gordon. “Welcome to Lead With Inclusion! This weekly newsletter is a resource for EVERY professional. Whether you’re a manager ready to be a more inclusive leader, or an employee ready to be a DEI champion in your workplace, inclusive actions lead to inclusive outcomes. Leading with inclusion simply means starting with inclusive actions in everything you do. It means identifying the areas where bias is at work, and shifting mindsets to make change.”
Excerpt – “Every year, I watch companies make pledges to change their organizational culture, their recruitment strategy, the list goes on. And you know what? Every year, I watch those same companies continue to make the same mistakes, over and over and over again (I’m talking to you National Football League (NFL) and if you’re not sure why, this opinion piece explains another perspective). If I’m being honest, I’m exhausted. Those of us in the DEI space spend a lot of time telling folks what they should do if they want to promote inclusion in their workplaces and what they should do if they want to be a DEI champion. And clearly, it’s not working.
So this year, I’m doing things a bit differently. Rather than starting with what you should do, I think it’s time we start with what not to do. This year for Black History Month, I’m offering you my first ever “DEI DON’TS.” Each week, I’ll be bringing you a different “DEI Don’t” – something that organizations and individuals need to STOP doing if they actually want to lead with inclusion. It’s still a new year, and it’s not too late to leave old habits behind.”
A note from DCO: DEI refers to diversity, equity, and inclusion; another commonly used term is JEDI, which refers to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Global initiatives and Notable non-Canadians to learn about:
The Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (IMCHA) initiative; IMCHA seeks to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes by strengthening health systems, using primary healthcare as an entry point.
Kimberlé Crenshaw; a law professor and leading authority in the areas of civil rights, Black feminist legal theory, and race, racism, and the law. Her work has been foundational in two fields of study that have come to be known by terms that she coined: critical race theory and intersectionality.
Sojourner Truth; Born into slavery in 1797, Isabella Baumfree, who later changed her name to Sojourner Truth, would become one of the most powerful advocates for human rights in the nineteenth century. At the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth delivered what is now recognized as one of the most famous abolitionist and women’s rights speeches in American history. While there is some controversy surrounding the actual words of the speech, either way you read it, it is powerful.
While we hope the resources above provide you with a good starting point, or perhaps someone new to learn from, please keep in mind that our very few suggestions barely scratch the surface of learning opportunities. We encourage everyone to take some time to think about how and why racism still exists in Canada, where there is conflict in relation to race, and how we can each help to resolve these issues.
You can also view some of our past resource lists here.