Ways to mark Black History Month
Jan. 22, 2024
Feb. 1 marks the start of Black History Month. Many of the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians have been erased or excluded from our national narrative, and this is an opportunity to acknowledge, value and celebrate them.
It’s also a chance to recognize the transformative work of Black Canadians today and to give visibility to the people and organizations creating meaningful change.
There are a number of ways you can honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities and recommit to your own learning this month – and every day.
Attend an event at the college or in your community
Here are a few upcoming Black History Month events at Georgian. Please check back as more may be added.
Open to students, employees and alumni:
Watch a film: 12 Years a Slave
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6 to 8:30 p.m. – Barrie Campus, K building, room 229B
Georgian students, employees and alumni are welcome. No registration required.
Culture day
Thursday, Feb. 8, all day – Orillia Campus
We invite folks to come dressed in your own culture’s traditional attire or showcase your own varied cultural practices through clothes, photos, poems, music, or more!
Got Hair? Celebrating Black History Month through the diversity of hair
- Tuesday, Feb. 13, noon to 4 p.m. – Orillia Campus, GCSA Student Lounge
- Thursday, Feb. 15, noon to 4 p.m. – Barrie Campus, ABSC event space (third floor, N building). If you’re not at the Barrie Campus on this day, join us virtually for our hair event via Microsoft Teams livestream!
Join us to learn more about Black hair and the broader cultural significance of hair. This event is designed to honour and display various hair types, fostering connections between clients and local service providers offering culturally specific services. It also aims to educate the community about the unique ways in which hair plays a significant role in shaping our identities and histories.
More details:
- Portions of the event will be livestreamed.
- From noon to 1 p.m., listen to a panel discussion focusing on various aspects of hair, including insights into the diversification of our Hairstyling program curriculum, Afro-Indigenous perspectives and the presence of Black hair in professional settings.
- Following the panel discussion, vendors and hair demonstrations will be featured from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Open to students only:
Taste of the Caribbean
Tuesday, Feb. 6, noon to 1 p.m. – Orangeville Campus, Student Resource Room
Enjoy some food samplings of Jamaican patties and Jamaican festival from Soulyve Catering. Food giveaway while supplies last.
Afro-Caribbean food festival
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Barrie Campus, C building, across from Subway
Listen to Afrobeat and Dancehall music while snacking on African and Caribbean foods, including puff-puff, fishcakes and festival.
Enjoy an authentic meal
Monday, Feb. 12, noon to 2 p.m. – Orillia Campus, GCSA Student Lounge
Come eat some samples of home-cooked food from a local Orillia restaurant, The Shack Eatery. Food giveaway while supplies last.
Arts and crafts activities
Thursday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Orillia Campus, cafeteria
Join fellow students in honouring cultural crafts, art and colours.
Open to employees only:
Combatting Microaggressions Training
Thursday, Feb. 8, noon to 1 p.m.
This virtual lunch and learn session hosted by the Centre for EDI&B will examine the nature of microaggressions and how they often manifest in the workplace and our classrooms. We’ll offer tips and tools to assist in intervening and provide the opportunity for discussions via a facilitated group exercise.
Educate yourself
Learning about the experiences of Black friends, colleagues, neighbours and community members extends far beyond Black History Month.
We encourage you to sustain a commitment to change all year by:
- reading articles and books,
- watching documentaries, and
- listening to Black-led podcasts.
Not sure where to start?
Begin here: Educational resources on racism and anti-Black racism
Looking for some great reads during Black History Month?
Librarians and staff in Library and Academic Success have pulled together a great list of collections to amplify Black voices and want to share it with the Georgian community. Check it out below!
More resources to learn from
- The Black Canadian Calendar
- About Black History Month – Canada.ca
- Black History Month: Honouring and Celebrating Black People in Canada – Statistics Canada
- “Anti-Racist Checklist for Whites” by Robin DiAngelo, adapted from John Raible (2018)
- “5 Black Women Talk About Their Lives in Canada—Past, Present and Future” by Eternity Martis (2020)
- Continue your learning this month by exploring some resources and webinars from the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI):
Georgian’s Centre for EDI&B
One of the ways Georgian is furthering its commitments is through the Centre for EDI&B, made possible thanks to a $400,000 grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Check out the EDI&B website to learn about initiatives and opportunities.
Partnership with Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
Georgian is a proud member of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. Through this partnership, students and employees have access to many great resources and supports, including:
- a monthly newsletter, Diversity Ink,
- a Knowledge Repository with articles, reports and videos, and
- free monthly webinars.
Celebrate Black history and culture beyond February
Black Canadians have played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of our nation, contributing to art, music, literature, business and much more. To truly appreciate this influence, it’s time to shift from a one-month celebration to a year-round embrace of diversity. Here are some practical steps you can take to integrate, promote and engage with Black culture:
- Instead of confining cultural celebrations to February, actively attend events and festivals that showcase Black talent and creativity throughout the year. Whether it’s music festivals or art exhibitions, these gatherings offer opportunities to immerse yourself in the vibrancy of Black culture.
- Diversify your media consumption by including a broad range of voices and perspectives. Seek out literature, films, documentaries and podcasts that amplify Black stories and experiences.
- Seek opportunities to engage in conversations about race, culture and diversity. Meaningful dialogue fosters understanding and empathy, dismantling stereotypes and promoting a more inclusive community.
- Translate knowledge into action! Explore resources and tools that can help contribute to environments where individuals feel seen, heard and valued.
Show your support virtually
Download our custom Microsoft Teams background to use virtually throughout Black History Month.
Amplify
Share Black voices.
Celebrate Black accomplishments.
Promote Black-owned businesses.
Read and share stories of Black Excellence in the Georgian community.
Get involved
Learn how you can support Black-led organizations or volunteer for initiatives in your community.
Together, and with the support of community members and allies, Georgian continues to cultivate a teaching, learning and working environment where everyone feels seen, heard, valued and knows they belong – where every voice is welcome and matters. This is reflected in our demonstratable, accountable and system-wide commitments to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, decolonization and anti-racism. I’m personally dedicated to this work, and I hope all students and employees will consider how they can amplify their commitments and celebrate the achievements of Black Canadians during Black History Month and every day. Thank you to all those who’ve planned activities across our multi-campus community and for sharing resources to help us on our journey of learning and unlearning.
Kevin Weaver, President and CEO
Originally published in January 2023 and updated in January 2024.