Black History Month: A Month Long or Year Long Celebration? Let's discuss!

Hi all,

I hope you are all doing well and that 2024 is progressing as you anticipated. I am happy to share with you the latest edition of my newsletter, in celebration of Black History Month, or should I say Black History Year?

It goes without saying that we have made significant progress over the years with regard to opportunities to share, understand and celebrate the impact of Black culture. Since the 1920’s, the celebration of Black History has been a fundamental part of our heritage and has influenced so many generations of African Americans and Black Canadians today.

This brings me to the discussion at hand and is based on the premise that even today; black people continue to face racial biases not only in the workplace or in public but online as well.

The argument around a year long celebration is recognizing that there is still much to be done to protect Black history. The journey to empowerment for ALL our people is still a very long one and while the celebrations and recognition of contribution made by leaders of yesterday and today are important, we have to remember that we need to educate and empower our leaders of tomorrow.

Education in this context goes beyond the academic sense which is also very critical. It is the crucial teaching of our history to our children so that they not only understand where they come from but use it as a guiding principle for where they’re going. This extends to the incorporation of Black history in more depth and factuality for the essential understanding of why the social, economic and political landscape of America, Canada and the world by extension was built in most cases without care or regard for the black voice.

This year’s theme for Black History Month in the US is African Americans and the arts. It celebrates African American contributions to literature film music and other arts. Here in Canada our theme is Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build.

The contributions made by the Black community has invariably shaped American and Canadian culture, specifically as it relates to music, art, literature, and cuisine. It is it is this rich cultural heritage that many other cultures are influenced by and therefore should be recognized and glorified not only this month but throughout the year.

There are many black icons both past and present that have yet to receive the notoriety and recognition they deserve. The introduction of a year long celebration of Black History will see more people being honored for their contributions, especially Black individuals who have triumphed over adversity.

It is important to remember and celebrate the African American and Black Canadian experience all year long. The time for continued action to tackle racism and ensure that black history is represented is now. We Have a unique opportunity to celebrate the contributions of the Black community and commit to honoring our rich history not only in February but every day, ensuring that the legacy and achievements of the Black community are recognized and respected in perpetuity.