By Levon Sevunts, Radio Canada International | What do you do when you want to teach the youth the history of your community, especially, if that history is not featured in conventional history books? The Black Community Resource Centre (BCRC) in Montreal decided that the way to do it in the 21stcentury was by letting the youth to interpret that history various various art forms and then turn that into
Lawrence Hill: 11 books that shaped my life
February 18, 2016
Lawrence Hill is making a second run at the Canada Reads crown with his novel The Illegal, defended by Olympian Clara Hughes. The Illegal tells the story of Keita Ali, an elite marathoner fleeing persecution at home and deportation in the country he’s escaped to. As we gear up for Canada Reads 2016, Hill reflects on the 11 books that have shaped his life – from childhood favourites to the
Slave songs are a point of pride for Vancouver musician Khari McClelland
February 18, 2016
The songs of African-American slaves who crossed into Canada are more than 150 years old, but Vancouver-based musician Khari McClelland still takes pride in them today. McClelland’s great-great-great-grandmother Kizzy is one of those slaves, forgotten by the history books but remembered fondly by family. Even her last name has been lost. “She is totally the reason for my being,” says McClelland, a member of Vancouver-based gospel group The Sojourners. This is one of the few photographs of
Black history month: Slavery, blackface, even Lil Wayne in high school show
February 17, 2016
A twin brother and sister duo put on a show for Montreal high school students to prompt them to reconsider their beliefs about race and what they think they know about black history.
Profile: Lincoln Alexander
February 17, 2016
In 1945, Cpl. Lincoln Alexander was refused service at a Vancouver bar because he was black. Forty years later, the son of West Indies immigrants was appointed Ontario’s 24th lieutenant-governor, the first black Canadian to be appointed to a viceregal position in Canada. Born in Toronto in 1922, Alexander accomplished several firsts for Canada’s black community. During WWII, he was one of the few blacks who were allowed to enlist in
Francisca Mandeya’s journey from Zimbabwe to Nunavut
February 10, 2016
‘It’s surprising how we always want to look for difference where there’s actually a lot of similarity’ By Sima Sahar Zerehi, CBC News Francisca Mandeya gets teary-eyed when speaking about her three kids. She came to Nunavut as a refugee from Zimbabwe just over a year ago but she couldn’t bring her children with her. “Sometimes life doesn’t give you a choice,” said Mandeya. “I was in a position that I
Black History Month- Toronto Black Film Fest
February 10, 2016
Toronto Ontario is the most culturally and ethnically diverse city in Canada, and one of the biggest celebrations of diversity is coming this week.
It’s only been four years, but the Toronto Black Film Festival has grown by leaps and bounds. This is not only in audience participation, but in it’s importance and influence
Being Black in Canada
February 9, 2016
To mark Black History Month, host Asha Tomlinson examines various aspects of the black experience in this country
Wrestler Cleopas Ncube sets his sights on Rio
February 8, 2016
Cleopas Ncube was born in Zimbabwe. His family left Africa because of the political situation and moved to Canada when Ncube was a child. He credits much of his success to his mother who he describes as an endless fountain of hope.
Black history month: Senator Anne C. Cools
February 8, 2016
In this month marking black history in Canada, we speak with Canadian Senator Anne C. Cools.
Senator Cools was the first black person to become a Canadian senator, and the first black woman senator in North America. These are just two of the many firsts and other leading roles she has taken on in her life.
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