African Liberation and Black History Month | The Ontario Federation of Labour

African Liberation and Black History Month

African Liberation and Black History Month 2021 Events:

February 3: Black History in Canada

February 5: Family and Paint – Black History Month

February 9: Celebrating Black History Month 2021

February 17: Black History in Canada: A Look Back at 400 Years of Black Presence

February 17: Defund the Police: What the Heck Does that Mean?

February 27: Black History Month Paint N Sip

February 28: Family Black History Trivia

Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.

Black History Month is a time to learn more about these Canadian stories and the many other important contributions of Black Canadians to the settlement, growth and development of Canada, and about the diversity of Black communities in Canada and their importance to the history of this country.

Few Canadians know that African people were once enslaved in the territory that is now Canada, or of how those who fought enslavement helped to lay the foundation of Canada’s diverse and inclusive society.

In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first Black man appointed to the Senate, introduced the Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval and was adopted on March 4, 2008. The adoption of this motion completed Canada’s parliamentary position on Black History Month.

At the global level, the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent is educating people on our world history of enslavement, discrimination, bigotry and criminalization. In 2016, this UN body visited Canada and wrote a detailed report on what they learned. They called for several actions, including one for the federal government to “issue an apology and consider providing reparations to African Canadians for enslavement and historical injustices.”

In March 2019, the federal government announced it was developing a much-needed anti-racism strategy for Canada. Unfortunately, the strategy lacks the concrete and practical steps that many in the labour movement are calling for.

Sources:

Government of Canada

CUPE

Take Action:

  • Celebrate and promote Black history month within your local
  • Lobby your government for the implementation of legislation that addresses anti-Black racism in your region, including employment equity legislation
  • Support community organizations and movements such as Black Lives Matter and other community organizations that fight against systemic racism and violence
  • Visit blacklivesmatter.ca and follow #BlackLivesMatter on Twitter
  • Attend Black History Month events in your local communities to celebrate, learn and network

Learn More:

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