How have you celebrated Black History Month this year? I would love to know!
Some of my friends and colleagues have made an intentional effort to support Black-owned businesses. Others have made donations to charities that support Anti-Racism Equity and Equality. Still others have purchased, read, and shared books by Black authors. Then there are the wonderful online resources that I personally have found helpful because they have introduced me to noteworthy Canadian Black Figures and their contributions. Some of these we shared in our worship service at Siloam on Sunday, February 13th.
Here is a wonderful video about the founder of Black History Month in Canada, the Honourable Jean Augustine, about whom I have written before. Her story is especially inspiring. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wGRWtSMq3s
Here is a powerful video about a young Canadian Black woman named Anne who talks about how the failure to lift up positive images of black girls in her elementary school led her to want to straighten her hair and bleach her skin – so that she could fit in with all the white kids in her class!
Here’s a link to one video in a series on Black History in Canada, that I encourage you to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZvGmSuqiKw
Perhaps the best way to celebrate Black History Month is to commit to learning more about what it means to be black in Canada and how you can support efforts that lead to greater equality for all people of colour, not just during the month of February, but all year long!
Boomerality 