‘It’s actually a kind of a necessity’ By Stacey Janzer, CBC News Inside the halls of West Gate public school you can see many styles of African art. Students have created their own African masks and some coloured patches for a freedom quilt. The Greater Essex County District School Board recently revised its African-Canadian studies for the elementary school grades. Called ‘African Canadian Roads to Freedom,’ the text suggests to teachers that
Black History Month blood drive in Montreal looks to address shortage
February 25, 2016
Adult education centre in Little Burgundy hosts special blood drive with Héma-Québec CBC News Héma-Québec aims to boost its blood donations from the black community with a Black History Month blood drive on Saturday in Little Burgundy. Despite an increase in donations over the past few years, Héma-Québec says work still needs to be done to bolster donations from minority groups. “Sickle-cell anemia has caused me many complications here and there in my life,” Delano George, 40,
George Elliot Clarke: The Motorcyclist (novel)
February 25, 2016
By Marc Montgomery George Elliot Clarke is a man of many words. Staunchly proud of his “africadian” roots in Nova Scotia, Clarke has gone from literary success to literary success. His latest work is a novel loosely based on the life of his father. It’s called “The Motorcyclist” Known primarily as a poet, Clarke is in fact Canada’s recently nominated Parliamentary poet Laureate. Playwright, literary critic, novelist, and Officer in
Reinterpreting Little Burgundy’s black history
February 25, 2016
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
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