February is Black History Month in Canada which focuses on honouring and celebrating the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities.
The 2024 theme for Black History Month is “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”. This theme celebrates the rich past and present contributions and accomplishments of Black people in Canada, while aspiring to embrace new opportunities for the future.
Celebrating the many achievements of Black people is something we should be doing all year long. Black History Month reminds us that the contributions of Black people are underrepresented in society, and the importance of increasing that representation and valuing the many contributions Black people make. It’s also a time when an abundance of learning resources and ways to support black people and communities are shared each year.
Black History Month Communications
As an organization, recognizing Black History Month is important, signalling your awareness of race and racism, and the need to take action to end racial inequities. Publicly celebrating Black History Month sends a clear message that Black people are valued and embraced.
At a minimum, organizations can share the Black History Month resources and visuals published each year by the Government of Canada. A more personalized approach would include highlighting specific examples of the achievements of Black people that relate to your organization and sharing local Black History organizations and celebratory events.
Finding a respectful balance between celebration and acknowledging the systemic racism and inequity Black people continue to face is also important. This is where it can be valuable to raise awareness of inequities Black people experience while sharing practical ways to help remedy it, featuring many of the resources available as part of Black History Month. It’s also an opportunity to emphasize your organization’s commitment to anti-racism and ongoing journey toward helping create a more equitable future.
Need help with your Black History Month communications? Reach out for help with your communications strategy, including developing Black History Month messaging for your organization.
Black History Month Reading Recommendations
On a personal note, one of the ways I continue to build my awareness and understanding of the experiences of Black people is through reading literature written by Black writers, usually fiction or memoirs. Reading books by Black authors is especially important in a world where the voices of Black storytellers have historically been excluded from the publishing industry.
I’ve always appreciated how fiction can allow you to deeply empathize with characters, making it a great way to begin to understand lived experiences different from your own. Through the power of storytelling, Black authors help us understand their struggles and triumphs, as well as their everyday life experiences.
Many local bookstores and libraries curate excellent multi-genre book recommendations for Black History Month. I recommend reading Homegoing and Transcendent Kingdomby Yaa Gyasi, and My Mother’s Daughter: A Memoir of Struggle and Triumph by Perdita Felicien, and reviewing the following lists:
- 19 Canadian books to check out during Black History Month 2024
- Black History Month Reading List 2024, curated by Zalika Reid-Benta (Irondog Books)