Celebrating Black Canadians while giving the police millions more $$ each year.
It is frustrating to see politicians claim to celebrate this month while their actions contradict these words. For example, seeing Toronto Mayor John Tory say that he "opposes racism" while also proposing a $48 million increase of the police budget.
Why is this the opposite of an anti-racist action? Let's review what Black History Month is all about and then some appropriate actions you can take. It's not hard to find resources to learn about the racist origins of currents systems in place today.
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month is about the past, present, and future. It is observed by Canada and the United States every February to highlight the contributions of Black people and acknowledge the history that is still not being emphasized as it should be in schools. This month serves to appreciate Black culture and arts as well.
It is also a time for non-Black people to reflect on the many ways that racism is still prevalent today.
The 2023 Black History Month theme is “Black Resistance.” This is meant to highlight the different forms in which Black people have historically resisted oppression and discrimination. Additionally, non-Black people can take the time to learn how to stand with them to take steps in dismantling these systems of oppression for good.
Origins of Black History Month
Black History Month began in the United States as Negro History Week in 1926. The second week of February was chosen by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, as this would coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Historian, author, and teacher Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) was born to parents that were former slaves. Despite putting off schooling to work, he was determined to educate himself. In his studies, he found that the white-dominated historical profession had little interest in Black history. He worked hard to ensure Black history could be studied and preserved.
Woodson was the second African American to obtain a PhD degree from Harvard University (after W. E. B. Du Bois), and remains the only person whose parents were enslaved in the United States to obtain a PhD.
"For me education means to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin, to learn to begin with life as they find it and make it better." - Carter G. Woodson
U. S. politicians gradually began to share proclamations to officially declare Negro History Week. This expanded into Black History Month in 1976, after Black Americans fought for it. In 1977, Congress declared Black History Month a national observance.
Black Canadians also had to fight for this month to be recognized. For example, Dr. Daniel G. Hill, Donna Hill, Wilson O. Brooks, Joan Kazmarski, Lorraine Hubbard and others, co- founded the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) in 1978. This was the first major public organization in Canada to focus on Black Canadian history. The OBHS continues to exist today as a registered charity that is dedicated to the study, preservation and promotion of Black History and heritage.
In 1979, Daniel Hill and Wilson Brooks petitioned Toronto to recognize February as Black History Month. In 1979, under Mayor John Sewell, Toronto became Canada’s first municipality to designate February as Black History Month. Ontario proclaimed Black History Month for the first time in 1993 and every year thereafter.
In 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
Mathieu Da Costa
Did You Know: Afro-French explorer Mathieu da Costa was the first recorded free Black person to have arrived in what is currently known as Canada in the early 17th century, likely arriving with Pierre Dugua de Mons and Samuel de Champlain.
The French and the Dutch competed in court for the right to his services. He was a multilingual interpreter believed to have spoken English, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Pidgin Basque. These valuable skills helped bridge the cultural gap between early French explorers and First Nations peoples.
Although there are various documents that historians can use to speculate, the only verifiable fact we have about Da Costa comes from documentation showing that he was in Holland in early 1607. It appears likely that the Dutch kidnapped him from the French.
Celebrate & Learn
Follow more Black creators and share their content
Read a book or watch a documentary on Black history (written/created by Black people)
Visit a Black history museum (online or in person)
Attend Black History Month events
Learn about the Black history of various industries, as well as the racist origins of current systems (i.e. policing)
Try to learn about some less frequently talked about Black leaders in history
Pair Your Education with Action
Use what you've learned to fight for policy change, whether it's by emailing your representatives or attending a protest
Investigate what your workplace is doing in terms of DEI efforts
Have conversations with people in your life to try to teach them something new
Support Black-owned businesses and Black-led organizations
Things Not To Do This Month (or Ever)
Don't assume that Black people owe you free labor via educating you
Don't ask Black people why there isn't a 'White History Month' (that's every other month of the year, white history is already centered)
Don't get defensive when accused of racism, listen
Don't let yourself think that educating yourself is all the work there is to do, it only means something when simultaneously occurring with meaningful anti-racist actions
An anti-racist book club on its own is not enough to dismantle oppressive systems in place
Don't let this be the only month you educate yourself and/or take action
References
Black History Society. (n.d.). OBHS mission. Retrieved from https://blackhistorysociety.ca/about-the-founder/
Canadian Union of Public Employees. (n.d.) Black History Month. Retrieved from https://cupe.ca/event/black-history-month
Government of Canada. (2022). Statement by the Prime Minister on Black History Month. Retrieved from https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2022/02/01/statement-prime-minister-black-history-month
History.com Editors. (2010). Black History Month. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
Millette, D., & Lambert, M-E. (2013). Mathieu Da Costa. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mathieu-da-costa
NAACP. (n.d.). Carter G. Woodson. Retrieved from https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/carter-g-woodson
National Park Service. (2017). Carter G. Woodson: Winona, WV. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/carter-g-woodson-winona-wv.htm
Statistics Canada. (2022). Black History Month. Retrieved from https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/307-black-history-month
Williams, D. W. (2019). Black History Month in Canada. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/black-history-month-in-canada
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