Local educators and students recognize Black History Month

Several local groups and organizations are planning events for Black History Month, celebrated annually in February.

The theme for Black History Month in 2022 is 'February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day,' focusing on the daily contributions that Black Canadians make to Canada.

“In recognition of Black History Month, the Sault College Library has put together some great resources that we encourage you to check out,” said Rick Webb, Sault College spokesperson in an email.

Those resources include eBooks, audio books, magazines and streaming videos involving Black history and culture in Canada and the U.S, ranging from topics such as recipes, articles written by Black journalists, feminism, social justice and economic issues, poetry, hair, beauty and fashion, the dark realities of the days of slavery and continuing discrimination and works on the lives and careers of Black icons such as Martin Luther King Jr.

For a list of resources at the Sault College Library, click here.

The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library will be adding educational posts to its Facebook page and Instagram on famous Black Canadians during Black History Month at 7 p.m. each Monday in February. A post on Viola Desmond - who defied segregation - was added Monday, with additional posts to be added on lawyer and first Black Canadian parliamentarian Leonard Braithwaite, notable surgeon Anderson Abbott and lawyer Violet King.

The library will also be holding a Black History Month reading challenge for children through Facebook.

As reported earlier, Algoma University is celebrating the month with a series of virtual panel discussions and a keynote speaker.

Local school boards are also celebrating Black History Month.

“Student Council this year has based everything that we’ve been doing around three key principles which are equity, diversity and positivity,” said Adam Morgenstern, St. Mary’s College (SMC) Student Council member and Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (H-SCDSB) student trustee.

“We know that there are students in our school coming from all walks of life, no matter the colour of their skin or anything that may make them visibly different. They should all be included and recognized in anything that we’re doing. This is why we decided to recognize Black History Month.”

“Our plans are, throughout the month, to make two announcements a week over the PA recognizing important Black Canadians throughout history. These are people who have made positive change and contributed to the diverse country that Canada is now. We’re posting information on these influential people on the events board outside the main office for all the students and staff to see as they’re walking by. They're also going to be posted on our Student Council Instagram account every week. There are also prayers over the PA made by our chaplain which include themes about Black History Month,” Morgenstern said.

Each SMC Student Council member has picked a notable Black Canadian to write about, those individuals recognized through the school’s PA announcements.

“The influential person I chose was Jean Augustine. She was a politician, social activist and she started her career as an educator,” Morgenstern said.

Augustine was the first Black Canadian female MP and the first to serve in the cabinet as the Minister of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women from 2002 to 2004 and was the Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Jean Chretien from 1994 to 1996.

She also served as the first Fairness Commissioner of Ontario from 2007 to 2015.

“I found her really inspiring because she took so many big first steps for people following her, she opened doors for many people to walk through after her. She continued to blaze a trail of positivity for people after her,” Morgenstern said.

“While Algoma District School Board highlights Black History in Canada during the month of February, we also recognize that the contributions of Black Canadians to our country is something to recognize and include in our schools throughout the year,” said Joe Maurice, ADSB superintendent of education in charge of well-being and Indigenous education in an email.

“To support Black History Month in our schools, the most recent edition of Connect Newsletter includes an overview of Black History Month and access to some key resources.  This has been shared with all of our schools and can be found on our website."

“In addition, we have also provided all of our schools with the 2022 edition of Kayak Magazine which focused on Black History in Canada. In addition, we have a link that provides access to lesson plans and activities that can be utilized with this resource,” Maurice said.

The Government of Canada will host a Black History Month virtual celebration on Facebook Live at 7 p.m. (ET) on Feb. 17, 2022 that will include performances, tributes and interviews.

The federal government also has a separate website encouraging the public to check out Black History Month, the page including a great deal of information and resources.

That website can be found here.