Black History Month 2021 — Events and Resources
In 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month after a motion by the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons.
Unfortunately, much of Canada’s Black history is not well-known by Canadians. An education system largely built on colonialist influence has largely ignored the enslavement of Black people in Canada and have caused many to be unaware that segregation was accepted in Canada well into the 1960s.
Black History Month is a time to learn more about the experiences of Black folks in Canada, and the many contributions they have made and continue to make in shaping the country.
In light of this, in this post, we list some of the events happening throughout Black History Month that are organized by Black communities and organizations in British Columbia. We also list some films, books, podcasts, and educational resources for you to peruse to learn more about the lived experiences of Black communities, in Canada and abroad.
This list is by no means exhaustive. If you want us to add anything on this list, let us know!
Events
Events Hosted by BC Black History Awareness Society
- February 7, 2021: Putting Black British Columbia History to Work: Contemporary Implications of Historical Blackness
- February 17, 2021: Symposium: Black Migration and British Columbia
- February 20, 2021: The Fifth Element
- February 21, 2021: Ross Bay Cemetery Tour
- February 22, 2021: BCBHAS celebrates Music during Black History Month with Pablo Cárdenas
Stratagem: Black Queer Futures
- February 4, 2021: Afrofuturism: Creating Us Into Existence
- February 9, 2021: Police Surveillance in Black Queer Activism
- February 13, 2021: Afro-Indigenous Resilience
- February 19, 2021: Out There Without Fear: Black Bodies in Motion
- February 23, 2021: Stratagem: Black Queer Futures — Re-Defining Black Masculinity
- February 28, 2021: Stratagem: Black Queer Futures — Black Brilliance Trivia Night
Events at UBC
- February 4, 2021: Anti-Racist Teaching Series: Foundations in Anti-Racism and Solidarity in University Teaching
- February 10, 2021: Through the Lens: I Am Because You Are vs I Am Because You’re Not
- February 22, 2021: Anti-Racist Teaching Series: Identifying and Responding to Harmful Phrases
- February 25, 2021: Black (in)Visibility: Black Nurses in Canada who Paved the Way
Events at SFU
- February 17, 2021: An un/settling event: Readings & Reflections on Black Art, Identity & Place
- February 25, 2021: President’s Dream Colloqium on Conversations to Action: Creating From Social Justice Research — Black Matters by Afua Cooper and Wilfried Raussert
Events hosted by SFU SOCA (Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry)
- February 5, 2021: Black Trivia
- February 13, 2021: Afro-Dance Workshop with Flourish Adeogun
- February 19–20, 2021: Movie Nights
- February 27, 2021: #BlackMindsMatter — A Panel Discussion on Mental Health
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Diversity and Inclusion Council
- February 23, 2021: Honouring Black History Month: Solidarity through Action
Events hosted by the Issamba Centre
- February 4, 5, 6, 2021: Black History Month 2021 — The Symposium
- February 20, 2021: Issamba — A Journey Through African-Rooted Rhythms
Vancouver Film Festival
- February 5 to March 4, 2021: Films showing throughout Black History Month
Toronto Black Film Festival
- February 10–21, 2021: Films showing throughout Black History Month
Literature
Films
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
- Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019)
- 13th (2016)
- LA 92 (2017)
- I Am Not Your Negro (2017)
- Selma (2015)
- John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020)
- Hidden Figures (2016)
- Journey to Justice (2000)
- One Night in Miami (2020)
- The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
- Do The Right Thing (1989)
- Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland (2018)
- Fruitvale Station (2013)
- Tallawah Abroad: Remembering Little Jamaica (2019)*
- Black Sun (2020)*
- Black Mother Black Daughter (1989)*
*films by Black Canadian filmmakers
Books by Black Canadian authors
- The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole
- Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to Present by Robyn Maynard
- The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
- The Hanging of Angelique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montreal by Afua Cooper
- Black Writers Matter by Whitney French
- Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada edited by Rodney Diverlus, Sandy Hudson, and Syrus Marcus Ware
- They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up by Eternity Martis
- Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta
- I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You: A Letter to My Daughter by David Chariandy
Podcasts
- BlackChat: Vancouver-based podcast hosted by Kona and Morgan, featuring interviews with members of the Black community, and a celebration/exploration of being Black in Canada.
- Portraits of Black Canadians: a Radio Canada podcast that features Black Canadians who contributed to the building of Canada and are making an impact every day
- Black Canadian Content Creators: a podcast honouring the work of digital or analog creators who identify as Black, African, Caribbean or Mixed in Canada or Black Canadians living and creating abroad.
- The Secret Life of Canada: a CBC podcast on the history of Canada not typically learned in classroom or history books
- Historically Black: Narrated by celebrities like Issa Rae, Roxanne Gay, and Keegan-Michael Key, each episode explores on one artifact submitted by a listener and uses that object to create a “museum” that pays homage to the lived experiences of various Black Americans.
Educational Resources
- Anti-Slavery Movement in Canada — Library and Archives Canada
- Black History Month in Canada’s Digital Collections
- Black History Canada Portal
- Canadian Encyclopedia: Black History in Canada
- Mary Ann Shadd Cary — Library and Archives of Canada
- Remember Africville — National Film Board of Canada
- Remembering Black Loyalists, Black Communities in Nova Scotia
- Underground Railroad — Historica Foundation
- Virtual Museum of Canada — On the Road North — Black Canada and the Journey to Freedom
Organizations to support
The Global Shapers Vancouver Hub is a group of Vancouver-based changemakers between 20 and 30 years old who’ve been selected for their dedication and track record for community impact. An initiative of the World Economic Forum, Global Shapers are diverse in demographics, geographical areas, and sectors, but united by a common drive to build a more dynamic, peaceful, and inclusive world through local impact.
Feel free to reach out through Twitter , Facebook, or connect with individual Shapers through our website. If you are interested in volunteering with our Hub, connect with us here.
