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Black History Month

by Lucas Rigamont Braganca on 2023-02-01T12:00:00-08:00 in History | 0 Comments

 

Did you know that Black History Month, which takes place every February and honours the contributions of Black Canadians and their communities, draws individuals from all over the country?

The 2023 theme for Black History Month is: “Ours to tell”. This theme represents both an opportunity to engage in open dialogue and a commitment to learning more about the stories Black communities in Canada have to tell about their histories, successes, sacrifices and triumphs.


Since the early 1600s, when the navigator and translator Mathieu Da Costa arrived in Canada, Black Canadians and their communities have played a significant role in defining the country's history and identity.

The Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) began operations in 1978. Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks, among its founders, petitioned the City of Toronto to declare February official Black History Month. The first Canadian proclamation was made by Toronto in 1979.

African Heritage Month was initially recognised in Nova Scotia in 1988, and it was later titled as such in 1996.

The OBHS successfully petitioned Ontario in 1993 to declare February to be Black History Month. Following that achievement, the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black woman to be elected to Parliament in Canada, was presented with the concept of Black History Month by Rosemary Sadlier, president of the OBHS.

Following the introduction of a resolution by Dr. Augustine, the House of Commons declared February to be Black History Month in Canada in December 1995. The resolution was adopted by the Commons with no opposition.

The Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month was introduced by Senator Donald Oliver, the first Black man to be appointed to the Senate, in February 2008. On March 4, 2008, it was unanimously approved and accepted. The parliamentary position of Canada on Black History Month was finished with the passage of this motion.

Learn more about these Canadian tales and the numerous other significant contributions that Black Canadians and their communities have made to the past, present, and future of this nation during Black History Month.

Here at Geoffrey R. Weller Library, we have put together a display of works that provide more information about Black History in Canada.

Not living in Prince George? Take a look at some of the works that are available as e-books at the Geoffrey R. Weller Library:

Cover ArtBeing Black by Althea Prince; Insomniac Press Staff
Call Number: FC106.B6 P75 2000
ISBN: 9781895837773
Publication Date: 2001-09-25
 
 
 
Cover ArtAfricville by Donald H. Clairmont; Dennis William Magill
Call Number: FC2346.9.B6 C58 1999
ISBN: 9781551300931
Publication Date: 1999-01-30
 
 
 
Cover ArtBlack Canadians by Joseph Mensah
Call Number: FC106.B6 M45 2002
ISBN: 1552660907
Publication Date: 2004-09-01
 
 
 
Cover ArtWe're Rooted Here and They Can't Pull Us Up by Dionne Brand; Linda Carty; Afua Cooper; Sylvia Hamilton; Adrienne Shadd; Peggy Bristow (Editor)
Call Number: FC106.B6 W47 1994
ISBN: 0802059430
Publication Date: 1994-05-01
 
 
 
Cover ArtThe Blacks in Canada by Robin W. Winks
Call Number: FC106.B6 W55 1997
ISBN: 0773516328
Publication Date: 2000-05-16.
 
 
Call Number: FC2947.9.B6 M32 2004
ISBN: 0773527362
Publication Date: 2004-04-23
 
 
 
Cover ArtBlack Like Who? by Rinaldo Walcott
Call Number:  FC106.B6 W34 1997
ISBN: 9781894663403

Publication Date: 2003-04-25

Text adapted from Black History Month Canada


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