The Cookout: Inviting Black leaders into politics
Note: I would like to recognize that the term “womxn” is used in recognition of Black leaders at the event who identify as non-gender conforming or non-binary. As noted by the Black Voters Matter executive team, they were asked to utilize the term by their guest. As such, the term will be kept for the title and throughout the article per their request.
It is rare to have seen Black people on the political stage, let alone Black womxn in leadership positions within the political sphere. However, in recent years, Black and multiracial womxn have become increasingly involved in politics.
REGINA A first-of-its-kind initiative is pushing for more Black Canadians in western and northern Canada to run for office, with the possibility of a federal election on the horizon. We have something like two fifths of the black population in Canada but we have less than 1/5 of the candidates that run. We think that there d a particular need here for us to kind of serve and to focus on,” Petros Kusmu, the Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Canada said. In last November’s election, Juliet Bushi was the first Black woman elected as a School Board Trustee in the Regina Catholic School Division.
New organization aims to boost number of Black British Columbians in politics
Black Voters Matter Canada is hosting virtual workshops to encourage more Black candidates from the western and northern regions of Canada to run for elected office.
Social Sharing
CBC News ·
Posted: Mar 11, 2021 12:17 PM PT | Last Updated: March 11
Quebec Liberal MP Emmanuel Dubourg, left, shakes hands with B.C. Liberal MP Hedy Fry on Parliament Hill. Black Voters Matter Canada is trying to get more Black politicians to run for office, especially with the possibility of a federal election in the near future.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
A newly formed non-profit is encouraging Black people in Western and Northern Canada to run for office and get more involved in electoral politics.