Promote Black History Month

Gawd only knows that the contribution of blacks in Canada over the last couple of hundred years is not as well know as it should be so let's celebrate those acheivements....it is only fair considering that the black community is finally starting to take responsibility for the rise in black gang crime.

NOW Celebrates Black History Month

Untold stories clamour to be heard
February 01, 2007
Christian Cotroneo
staff reporter

For thousands of men and women who dreamt of a life without chains, Canada once had another name.

Heaven.

And Heaven was the last stop on the Underground Railroad, a secret network that saw at least 30,000 escaped slaves smuggled to freedom in what was then Upper Canada during the 19th century.

The "railroad" ground to a halt when slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865.

Yet, the stories of history's heroes – the men and women who helped thousands cross the border and those who braved the hardships of a perilous journey – still ring out in schools, churches and community centres as Canadians mark February as Black History Month.

The question is: Are we still listening?

After all, more and more voices are proclaiming their own histories, as increasing numbers of black Canadians trace entirely different journeys.

"We have people who live in this province who may have connections to Bermuda or the Caribbean or to Europe or South America," says Rosemary Sadlier, author and president of the Ontario Black History Society.

Ultimately, however, many stories converge in memories of hardship. And a uniting lesson comes to the fore.

"It's always been about education," Sadlier continues. "And it's always been about social justice and what we can do to bring about true raised awareness. I think (the celebration has) broadened a bit, to try and include the stories of people who have many different backgrounds."

The relevance of Black History Month has been challenged in recent years, especially in a high-profile, roundly rebuked assault by actor Morgan Freeman. During a December 2005 interview on 60 Minutes, he suggested history should not be segregated.

"I don't want a black history month," he complained. "Black history is American history."

But Sadlier argues that the month serves to highlight black achievements that should be in our cultural consciousness all year round.

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