2021 Black History Month

Black History Month

February is Black History Month and presents an invitation to a continuous and ongoing engagement to learn about Black History and celebrate the legacy and accomplishments of Black people. Black History Month was created in February 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a historian known as the “father of Black history”.

Dr. Woodson’s work was influential in the establishment of African American Studies. In 1912, Dr. Woodson was the second Black person to complete his PhD at Harvard University where he earned his doctorate in history. In 1916, he founded the oldest historical association, the “Association for the Study of African American Life and History, focused on promoting the study of African American History and the accomplishments of Black people.

 

In 1926, Dr. Woodson initiated what started as a Black History “week” that eventually became February’s Black History Month. As the ASALH website mentions, this initiative happens in February in recognition of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass as symbols of freedom as this month marked both their birthdays. The 2021 theme for Black History Month is “The Future is Now”, in recognition and honour of the transformative contributions that Black people have made, and continue to make.To learn more about Black History month, visit the ASALH website: https://asalh.org/about-us/about-black-history-month/. Below are a number of resources and virtual events focused on Black History Month.

“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished loose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”
Carter G. Woodson

Resources to learn more about Black History Month:

Association for the Study of African American Life and History presents the 2021 Virtual Black History Month

Learn more about Black History Month in Canada

Learn about outstanding Black individuals who have helped shape Canadian society

Learn about Black history organizations and educational resources in Canada

Learn about Historic Black Canadian communities

Learn about Black women who have advanced equality and human rights in Canada

BC Black History Awareness Society

Black History Month 2021 – Vancouver & Lower Mainland Events Blog

Celebrating Black History Month at the University of British Columbia (resources and events):

 Learning about fellow graduate students: Celebrating academic excellence of Black graduate students at UBC

Learn about UBC events and resources in celebration of Black History and achievement.

 UBC Education Library Collection Spotlight of children’s books and teacher recourses in celebration of Black History Month.

Black History Month at Xwi7xwa Library

 Celebrating Black authors:

The Vanishing Half: A Novel – Brit Bennett

Can you hear me now? How I found my voice and learned to live with passion and purpose – Celina Caesar-Chavannes

Four Hundred Souls: A community history of African America, 1619-2019 – Ibram X. Kendi

Felix Ever After – Kacen Callender

A promise Land – Barack Obama

Becoming – Michelle Obama

Gutter Child: A Novel – Jael Richardson

Concrete Rose – Angie Thomas

The Hill we Climb: An inaugural poem for the country – Amanda Gorman

The ProphetsRobert Jones, Jr.

Surviving the White gaze: A Memoir – Rebecca Carroll

The Source of Self-Regard – Toni Morrison

Reproduction – Ian Williams

An American Marriage – Tayari Jones

I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You – David Chariandy

Let Me Hear a Rhyme – Tiffany D. Jackson

The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin

With the Fire on High – Elizabeth Acevado

Between the World and Me – Ta-Nehisi Coates

Long Way Down – Jason Reynolds

The Autobiography of Malcolm X – Malcolm X

Celebrating and supporting Black entrepreneurs in BC and Canada:

Discover businesses owned by Black people across Canada by visiting: Black Owned Canada

Discover businesses owned by Black people in BC by visiting: AFROBiz.ca

Discover businesses owned by Black people in Vancouver

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