Paying Attention to Black History Month
You probably know that February is Black History month. We’ve been talking about this regularly in our worship planning meetings, and you might particularly notice it in the selections of some of our hymns and anthems. For instance, we’re singing an African-American spiritual each week as the offering is brought forward, and this week the solo is another African-American spiritual, as well as starting two weeks with a short song by Patrick Matsikenyiri from Zimbabwe. Since Black History month is about a lot more than music, and worship more generally, I wanted to share a few more thoughts about why it matters, as well as other resources for learning and celebrating further.
There is so much to talk about with Black History month that it’s difficult to know where to begin. If you haven’t come across Canada’s Black History month website, you might want to take a look. Among other topics, you can read information on historical figures, educational resources, and Historic Black Canadian communities, starting with the first person of African heritage to come to Canada – Mathieu da Costa in 1604.
What else might you want to do this month to recognize that it is Black History month?
If you’re a person who likes events, the City of Toronto gives links to some of the Black History month events happening in our city. Amanda Parris offers a list of must-see events happening around the country. She also talks about why this matters:
For three years now, I’ve compiled a round-up of Black History Month events. And each time it’s gone up on CBC Arts, these are the sort of comments that inevitably appear: “Who cares?” “When is white history month?”
I sigh every time I see comments like those, and a weariness falls over me. I’ve been hearing these lines since I was a teenager. In high school, I even heard them from a teacher. He claimed he was playing “devil’s advocate” when he told me I was wasting my energy trying to organize the school’s first Black History Month assembly. My answer to him? “There is no white history month because every month is white history month.”
These days, my need to recognize Black History Month has evolved and become more nuanced. But at a time when hate crimes have reached an all-time high in Canada and politicians deny the realities of systemic racism, it feels more urgent than ever to make space for creative, incisive and critical reflections on what it means to be Black in Canada. Even though it occurs during the shortest and coldest month of the year, Black History Month is frequently an opportunity to do just that.
I will always keep publishing this guide. It’s for the teenager out there who is forced to prove why an affirmation and recognition of their history and identity is important. This list is evidence that they are not alone and there are people across the country mobilizing with the same priorities.
Paying attention to Black History Month matters, and there are many different ways we can do so. You probably know that I love to read, so I’ll pass along CBC’s list of 6 must-read Canadian nonfiction works for Black History Month 2019 . If you’re like me, and enjoy science fiction and fantasy, you might want to make sure that Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti novella trilogy and other works by her, as well as N.K. Jemisin (The Inheritance Trilogy, The Broken Earth Trilogy, The Dreamblood Duology, short story collection How Long ‘Til Black Future Month?) are on your reading lists. Finally, for those who’d like a few film recommendations, here a few lists: a list of 8 films put together in the UK last year; 10 documentaries recommended by PBS; and family-friendly movies for Black History month, by category.
Blessings as you reflect on the history, accomplishments, and futures of black people this month, and all year.
Rev. Emily Gordon
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