February 17th, 2021 comments
A variety of events are being held across Canada in February to celebrate the 2021 Black History Month – this year’s theme is “The Future is Now”. For newcomers to Canada unfamiliar with the annual observance, it is celebrated in February every year to honour Black Canadians and heighten awareness about black history.
Slavery not only existed but also thrived in Canada until it was abolished in 1793 – the first known slave to have been brought to Canada in 1628 was Olivier Le Jeune. Canada abolished slavery much before the British Empire in 1833 and in the United States in 1865. Runaway slaves from the United States arrived via the Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of homes and routes that helped guide slaves to safety.
Posted: Feb 16, 2021 10:13 PM ET | Last Updated: February 17
An online event on Tuesday about Black History Month paid tribute to Jean Augustine, Canada s first female Black MP who championed the unanimous vote to designate February as Black History Month in Canada in 1995. (Source: jeanaugustine.ca)
Black History Month marks a special time of remembrance, reflection and recommitment, according to the creator of the Pan-African holiday called Kwanzaa.
Dr. Maulana Karenga, an Africana Studies professor at California State University, Long Beach, said the month honours the past, grounds the present and enriches the future. He said is a time to celebrate in meaningful ways the history of African people in the world.
Ariste: Black History is Canadian history – the pursuit of justice for everyone saultstar.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from saultstar.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ariste: Black History is Canadian history – the pursuit of justice for everyone nugget.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nugget.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.