Join us in celebrating Black History Month in Canada this February.
We honour the legacy of Black Canadians, and their communities.
We know our world is not perfect; there is much work and learning to be done. But by committing to learning more about Black history in Canada, together we can shape our country into the culturally diverse and compassionate nation we want it to be.
The theme for 2022 is The Future Is Now and below are some resources we found to help in the learning process. We know they don’t cover everything but hope that it’s at least a place to start.
Recognizing Black History Month in Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month/about.html
BC Black History Awareness Society
https://bcblackhistory.ca/
Anti-Slavery Movement in Canada
https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/history-ethnic-cultural/anti-slavery-movement/Pages/default.aspx
Herritage Minutes – Underground Railroad
https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/underground-railroad
You can support a charity supporting Black initiatives and purchase from Black-owned businesses:
AfroBiz
AfroBiz is a Canadian directory of Black-owned businesses and Black entrepreneurs. They are committed and dedicated to making a powerful impact in the Canadian Black Owned Business Community.
https://www.afrobiz.ca/
The Black Business and Professional Association
Founded in 1983, the BBPA is a non-profit, charitable organization that addresses equity and opportunity for the Black community in business, employment, education and economic development. Their mission is to advance Canada’s Black communities by delivering programs that support business and professional excellence, higher education and economic development.
https://bbpa.org/
Black Health Alliance
The Black Health Alliance is a community-led registered charity working to improve the health and well-being of Black communities in Canada. Their mission is to reduce the racial disparities in health outcomes and promote health and well-being for people from the diverse Black communities in Canada with emphasis on the broad determinants of health, including racism.
http://blackhealthalliance.ca/
Hogan’s Alley Society
The Hogan’s Alley Society advocates for Black Vancouverites who have endured the legacies of urban renewal and their erasure from the official historical narrative.
https://www.hogansalleysociety.org/
Black Lives Matter Vancouver
The Black Lives Matter Vancouver chapter is a cause that supports the organizing work of black folks and allies in undoing systemic racialized violence.
https://blacklivesmattervancouver.com/
Black Youth Helpline
Black Youth Helpline serves all youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, positioned and resourced to promote access to professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools.
https://blackyouth.ca/services/#how-to-access-our-services
Books:
- How to be An Antiracist – Ibram X.Kendi
- I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You: A Letter to My Daughter – David Chariandy
- Shame on Me: An Anatomy of Race and Belonging – Tessa McWatt
- So You Want to Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
- Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present
- The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power – Desmond Cole
- White Fragility – Robin J. DiAngelo
- Word Problems – Ian Williams
Shows & Films:
- 13th – Netflix
- American Son – Netflix
- Dear White People – Netflix
- If Beale Street Could Talk – Netflix
- King in the Wildnerness – Crave/HBO
- See You Yesterday – Netflix
- The Hate You Give – Amazon Prime
- When They See Us – Netflix
- The Vancouver International Film Festival is delighted to announce this year’s Black History Month programme, taking place at the VIFF Centre throughout February.
- You can also find a collection of films through the National Film Board
Podcasts: