Black History Month

Author and historian Rosemary Sadlier, who led the adoption of Black History Month across Canada, receives U of T honorary degree

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:58:50 +0000

Author and historian Rosemary Sadlier, who led the adoption of Black History Month across Canada, receives U of T honorary degree Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 06/07/2024 - 16:58

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(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Scott Anderson

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2024

Alumni

Black History Month

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Honorary Degree

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

School of Graduate Studies

Rosemary Sadlier has recalled, as a child, being asked where her father had come from – a question that arose because of the colour of his skin and suggested, “You don’t belong here.”

The query also suggested an ignorance of Black Canadian history, which stuck with Sadlier and played a role in shaping her career as an acclaimed author, historian, educator and social justice advocate who led a campaign to declare February Black History Month in Canada.

Today, for her advocacy and leadership in advancing Black history and heritage, and in promoting anti-racism, Sadlier will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the University of Toronto.

Growing up in Toronto, Sadlier earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Glendon College at York University. She worked for a few years before enrolling at the University of Toronto, earning a master’s degree in social work in 1982. She returned to U of T several years later for a Bachelor of Education, then went on to complete her coursework for a doctorate.

Although she recalls being one of only a handful of Black students in U of T’s Faculty of Social Work (now the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work), which sometimes presented challenges, she also remembered some “incredible profs.”

Finding a job in the field wasn’t easy. Sadlier told Speak Truth to Power Canada, a human rights resource for teachers, that one potential employer told her they had thought she was white. “There was a sense that the people who are supposed to be doing the helping are supposed to be white, and the people who are supposed to be helped are supposed to be everybody else,” she said. “There I was showing up to be this person to help, and it was just jarring for them.”

(Photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Having no luck finding paid work, Sadlier sought volunteer experience in an area that was meaningful to her: she took a role with the Ontario Black History Society, and after a few years became its president. She soon launched a bid to bring Black History Month to a wider audience.

A week-long observance of Black history and culture had originated in the United States in the 1920s. Three decades later, the event came to Canada, where it was celebrated primarily in the Black community and later expanded to the entire month of February. Sadlier pushed for the event to be honoured more widely – seeking permanent recognition first from the City of Toronto, then from the province and finally from the federal government.

Her effort culminated in 1995, when Jean Augustine, a fellow U of T grad and the first Black woman ever elected to Parliament in Canada, agreed to put Sadlier’s idea before the House of Commons. It passed unanimously, and the inaugural, nationwide Black History Month took place in February 1996.

Reflecting on her effort, Sadlier told Glendon College that her initial motivation had been personal: she didn’t want her children to face the same challenges she had. But she also knew that highlighting the contributions of Black Canadians was important in bigger ways. “It created a touchstone to focus on the presence, contribution, and experience of Canadians of African descent – lives that had been overlooked or not included in the national script.”

With the 30th anniversary of national Black History Month approaching, Sadlier says she’d like the subject to gain a higher profile during the rest of the year, too. To that end, she has written seven books about Black history. A new title – The Kids Book of Black History in Canada – is to be published in June.

Similar to her campaign for Black History Month, Sadlier also championed the formal recognition of August 1 as Emancipation Day at the local, provincial and national levels. Her goal: to mark the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1834 and generate “more discussion about slavery and the legacy of slavery.”

Ultimately, Sadlier aims to raise awareness about the Black experience in Canada, and the importance of contributions from the Black community, in the hope of achieving a more inclusive future. “I think with knowledge comes the opportunity for a real expression and a real appreciation of what inclusion means,” she said in the interview with Speak Truth to Power Canada.

In her message today to graduates of the Ontario Insitute for Studies in Education and the School of Graduate Studies, Sadlier encouraged them to consider how to turn their hopes into reality. “This chapter of your life is about marrying your bold and beautiful ideas with practical action,” she said. “It’s about anchoring your dreams in the physical and transforming sparks of inspiration into tangible success. It’s about planting the seeds of change in the collective consciousness and leaving behind a legacy that will inspire your descendants and your community.”

For her advocacy, Sadlier has received numerous honours, including the Order of Ontario, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, the William Peyton Hubbard Race Relations Awards, the Harry Jerome Award, and the Lifetime Achiever Award from the International Women’s Achievers’ Awards. She also holds an honorary doctorate from OCAD University.

Uncovering untold stories: U of T course explores Black Canadian history

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 19:01:44 +0000

Uncovering untold stories: U of T course explores Black Canadian history

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 02/28/2024 - 14:01

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Archival photograph of the Emanuel African Methodist Church congregation, early 1920s, in Edmonton (photo by Glenbow Archives, University of Calgary, ND-3-1199, and via the research of Jennifer R. Kelly, professor emeritus, University of Alberta, for the Edmonton City as Museum Project)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

History

St. Michael's College

Trinity College

How familiar are you with Black Canadian history?

“So many people educated in Canada, or external to Canada, don't know about the long-standing presence of Black people in this country,” says Funké Aladejebi, an assistant professor of history in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science.

“This breadth of knowledge on Black Canadian history often gets ignored or is not often inserted into broader courses on Canadian history.”

Determined to change this, Aladejebi is teaching a year-long course titled “Black Canadian History.” It’s part of a new Certificate in Black Canadian Studies offered through University College and open to all students in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“Many of the students in this class come from health and science, equity studies and Indigenous studies, and a lot of them like the idea of being able to say they have specific expertise on Black Canadian studies more broadly,” says Aladejebi.

“It's trying to give students a broad overview of the movements and migrations of persons of African descent into the land that is now called Canada and thinking in complex ways about how people were living and existing in this country.”

Salt Spring Island's Central School, 1929 (photo courtesy of the Salt Spring Island Archives)

The course goes as far back as 1604, which marks the earliest records of persons of African descent in Canada. It also explores the experiences of Black Loyalists – people of African descent who sided with the British during the American Revolutionary War – passengers of the Underground Railroad, as well as lesser-known movements to the West Coast, the Prairies and Maritimes.

Funké Aladjebi (supplied image)

“We tend to forget about these regions where Black people resided in smaller numbers,” says Aladejebi. “But it's our responsibility as historians to show the breadth of where Black people have been and where they still are.”

For example, most Canadians are unfamiliar with the history of the Jamaican Maroons in Nova Scotia.

After a series of wars fighting for freedom from British control in Jamaica, more than 500 Maroons – men, women and children – were forcibly transported to Halifax in 1796.

Despite an inhospitable reception, the Maroons flourished and maintained a strong sense of community in exile, says Aladjebi, adding that they were connected to the city’s larger community, having been involved in the construction of the Halifax Citadel. However, many in the community spent years petitioning the colonial government to leave Nova Scotia, and in 1800, most of them left for the free Black colony of Sierra Leone in West Africa.

“But it’s widely believed some Maroons stayed behind and their continued presence is reflected in the surnames, accents, idioms, customs, oral histories and traditions of African Nova Scotians,” Aladejebi says.

The Halifax Citadel (photo by Ron Cogswell, CC BY 2.0)

The second half of the course dives into more contemporary issues such as racial violence, anti-Black racism, immigration trends, equity and inclusion for Black communities, and injustice in Canada.

“We never just stay in the history, we always bring it to the contemporary with these historical foundations and track why this continues to exist today,” says Aladejebi. “By the time we move through the course, students understand the roots of anti-Black racism in Canada, and they're able to navigate institutions in a clearer way.”

Aladejebi says she is intrigued by the range of emotions the students experience as she teaches the material.

“They move through emotional stages where they are surprised at first and then get frustrated because of what they didn't know,” says Aladejebi. “The Black students go through a variety of feelings, but at end of the class, they’re feeling like they know a little bit more about themselves and the experience of persons of African descent.

“Non-Black students also go through a series of emotions. They feel better equipped to talk about Black Canadian history, they’re able to better understand various social relationships that are part of Black experiences across the diaspora.”

There can be anxious moments.

“Students have to talk about, ‘What was my experience in school? What was my experience and engagement with policing and the judicial system?’ So we go through pockets where students are nervous about saying the right and wrong things.”

For many students, working through these tensions leads to knowledge and understanding.

“As a Black Canadian political science major pursuing a career as a policy analyst, the course’s material, conversations and activities are crucial to both my academic and professional development,” says Dacian Dawes, a third-year member of St. Michael’s College who is double majoring in political science and critical studies in equity and solidarity, with a minor in African studies and a certificate in Black Canadian history.

“It has increased my understanding of systemic inequalities, inspiring me to use this information to build on my political science studies and future career.”

Erinayo Adediwura Oyeladun, a second-year student in African studies and a member of Trinity College, says she has been empowered by studying the work of Black Canadian history scholars, and sees how historical understanding can be a powerful tool in creating change.

“The historians’ research teaches me the importance of situating your work as more than just an intellectual discovery. Your work should also represent your community and serve a broader purpose in making a positive impact for your community.”

For Aladejebi, teaching the course has been equally as energizing, with her students continually challenging the way she delivers – and receives – information.

“We all come with our limitations, biases and prejudices. This course is helping us to think about where they come from, why they exist, and how we can interpret them. It's about interrupting the cycles, unlearning what we thought we knew, and re-imagining something better.”

Four U of T leaders speak to CBC News about being Black in academia, inspiring future generations

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:34:52 +0000

Four U of T leaders speak to CBC News about being Black in academia, inspiring future generations

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 02/27/2024 - 11:34

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From left to right: Charmaine Williams, Njoki Nathani Wane, Rhonda McEwen and Catherine Chandler-Crichlow (image via CBC)

Topic

Our Community

Black History Month

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

School of Continuing Studies

U of T Mississauga

Victoria University

Charmaine Williams, Catherine Chandler-Crichlow, Rhonda McEwen and Njoki Nathani Wane – all leaders at the University of Toronto – recently sat down with CBC News’s Dwight Drummond to discuss their many accomplishments, as well as the challenges they faced, as Black women in academia.

Airing in time for Black History Month, the roundtable interview underscored the importance of inspiring future generations.

"I certainly think representation matters,” said Williams, professor and dean of U of T’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “I think that it's important not only for Black students, but for other students who don't see people like them in this space, to see us representing that possibility.”

McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto, told Drummond she always believed she belonged in these spaces.

"I think in every one of our origin stories, somewhere along the line, some people built into us a belief that we could attain it and we could get it," said McEwen, who is also a professor at the Institute of Communications, Culture, Information and Technology at U of T Mississauga.

Chandler-Crichlow, dean of U of T’s School of Continuing Studies, said she was told early in her career to learn the system.

“You don't lose your culture, but you have to understand where you are,” she explained. “Because if you don't understand where you are, then you can't play the game. And we must be bold enough to see we are in the game.”

Wane, a professor and chair of department of social justice education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, has told her children to not let racism put them down.

“What you need to focus on is that you are grounded in your cultural identity, you are grounded in your goals, you are grounded in your vision,” she said.

Watch the CBC News interview

Canadian Black Scientists Network screens doc on Black astronauts as part of its advocacy efforts

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:26:07 +0000

Canadian Black Scientists Network screens doc on Black astronauts as part of its advocacy efforts

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 02/21/2024 - 09:26

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Guion “Guy” Bluford became the first African American in space in 1983. His story is showcased in documentary The Space Race, which is being screened by the Canadian Black Scientists Network (photo by NASA CCO Images)

Tina Adamopoulos

Topic

Our Community

Black Research Network

Canadian Black Scientists Network

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Black History Month

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

"This is a beautiful, artistic film that gives people a sense of the actual emotions involved in what we’re fighting for"

Maydianne Andrade first watched The Space Race a few months ago while preparing for a post-screening panel – one of countless events she has been involved in as a higher education leader and co-founder of the Canadian Black Scientists Network.

Focused on the little-known stories of Black astronauts, the documentary left an impression on the evolutionary ecologist. So, she decided to watch it a second time.

Now, together with partners across Canada, the Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN) is screening the film in cities across the country as part of its Black History Month programming – including an event Wednesday at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

“A lot of Black communities, including scientists, value the arts and humanities,” says Andrade, University Professor in U of T Scarborough’s department of biological sciences. “It’s critical to engage through the arts to help people not just learn about statistics but feel it.”

Following Wednesday’s screening, Andrade – who is also a member of the steering committee for the Black Research Network, one of the university’s institutional strategic initiatives – will be joined by Rene Harrison, a professor of biological sciences at U of T Scarborough, to discuss the film and how its themes resonate through today.

CBSN leaders meet at the 2024 Black History Month celebration at the Canadian Museum of History. Left to right: Chinyere Nwafor-Okoli, Trevor Charles and Maydianne Andrade (supplied image)

The Space Race reframes the history of U.S. space exploration through interviews with several pioneers of NASA’s space program – the first Black pilots, engineers and scientists in their journey to become astronauts. Starting in the 1960s civil rights era, the film leads up to the 2020 murder of George Floyd and the racial reckoning that followed.

It includes the story of Ed Dwight, a U.S. Air Force pilot who would have become the first Black astronaut when he was chosen by President John F. Kennedy to join a pilot program at the Edwards Air Force Base. His hopes came to a halt after Kennedy’s 1963 assassination when he wasn’t selected for the NASA program.

In 1983, Guion “Guy” Bluford became the first African American astronaut to go to space.

Andrade says many of the issues raised in the film are still relevant, including the need to better support Black and Indigenous students who are interested in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine) subjects.

“We have data in Canada that shows Black youth are streamed out of STEMM programs. The issues are still current,” Andrade says. “We want to shine a light on things that still need to be fixed and have those conversations.”

Shaping the future of STEMM

Launched in 2020, the CBSN is a national coalition of more than 700 members that works to elevate, connect and celebrate Black Canadians pursuing advanced degrees in STEMM. It advocates for equitable practices in funding and works to enhance the visibility of Black researchers in the field and increase retention of Black youth. That includes providing mentorship and opportunities to realize a career in STEMM through its Youth Science Fair.

CBSN-Youth delegates from Halifax at the Canada-wide science fair in 2023: Silver medalist Joy Akinkunmi (left) and bronze medalist Munir Al-Taher (supplied image)

The film screenings mark the launch of the CBSN’s Regional Nodes, associations of CBSN members and allies across Canada who support local programming and outreach. Regional Nodes are currently located in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec, with connections in Atlantic Canada through local partners.

“This is a beautiful, artistic film that gives people a sense of the actual emotions involved in what we’re fighting for. It’s about community and support,” Andrade says.

“I want people to understand the joy involved and how much we want to participate in these fields.”

Kinesiology students, staff and faculty create virtual tour to highlight Black history in sport

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 17:22:54 +0000

Kinesiology students, staff and faculty create virtual tour to highlight Black history in sport

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 02/06/2024 - 12:22

Jelena Damjanovic

Topic

Our Community

Black History Month

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Graduate Students

Subheadline

The Black History Here & Now virtual tour connects visitors to virtual presentations of Black Canadian accomplishments and experiences in sport and physical activity

Devonnia Miller did a lot of dancing growing up in the Bahamas, from ballet and tap to acrobatics and jazz. So, when the opportunity presented itself to learn more about the history of Black dance in Canada – she leaped.

An executive assistant to the chief administrative officer in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), Miller was part of an 18-member KPE Black History Month (BHM) working group – composed of staff, faculty and students – that worked collaboratively to illuminate Black Canadian history in sport and physical activity (a full list of members can be found at KPE).

The result is the Black History Here & Now virtual tour, a unique experience that uses QR codes, located throughout the Athletic Centre and Varsity Arena, to connect visitors to virtual presentations of Black Canadian accomplishments and experiences in sport and physical activity.

“The group wanted to link the online information to KPE’s physical spaces as a way of grounding history in the present and allowing participants to have an embodied experience of moving through the physical spaces to access information linked to each area – for example, the history of Black people and swimming is linked with the pool,” says Terry Gardiner, KPE’s director of equity, diversity and inclusion, who participated in the project’s development.

“The community is welcome to discover each location in person or to access the virtual tour online.”

Devonnia Miller was part of KPE's Black History Month working group that came up with the idea for a virtual tour highlighting Black Canadians' achievements and experiences in sport and physical activity (photo by Xiao Xiao)

Janelle Joseph, an assistant professor at KPE and director of the Indigeneity, Diaspora, Equity and Anti-racism in Sport (IDEAS) research lab, says she was happy to contribute her knowledge and expertise to the group.

“Black Canadian sport and leisure experiences are a significant part of my research and I still have many more curiosities to satisfy,” Joseph says. “My top priority is to document Black Canadians' international achievements and acknowledge the enduring presence of racism in Canadian sport.”

Terry Gardiner in a meeting with KPE's BHM working group (photo by Xiao Xiao)

Joseph adds that she particularly enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with staff on the project.

“Celebrating the achievements of athletes, coaches, administrators, athletic therapists and researchers of Black, Caribbean and African heritage leads to increased respect and contributes to ending ongoing patterns of discrimination,” says Joseph. “I want every Black youth to know there is a possible path for them in kinesiology, sport, recreation and leisure – and for every person in our facilities to know the names of Black Canadian sport contributors.”

Unearthing those names did not come without challenges. The scarcity of data on Black histories in sport and physical activity came as a surprise to many in the working group, including Miller, who struggled to find much information about Black dancers in Canada.

“That really stood out to me,” she says. “I hope the project opens up people's eyes to what the group was able to find out.”

From left to right: Caitlin Felteau-Mcinnis, Deniece Bell, Terry Gardiner, Luc Tremblay and Colleen Dotson (photo by Xiao Xiao)

For Anthonia Aina, who is pursuing her PhD at KPE by studying the effects of music on movement, the dearth of data documenting Black histories came with a silver lining.

“Knowing what we lack and seeing how we can build on that is a good starting point,” she says.

Colleen Dotson agrees. The head coach of U of T’s Track and Field Club says she hopes the project leads not only to greater visibility of Black Canadians in sport, but also better storage documenting of their achievements and experiences.

“People don't know about this history,” she says. “If it's uncovered and then goes back in a box again, that's of no use either, so hopefully, it finds a place to live, so these people’s stories can live on.”

The group also hopes the information uncovered by the project will help start and sustain conversations about race and inclusion in sport and physical activity.

“Black history is Canadian history and we all benefit from connections with the rich legacies and stories of both struggle and triumph that have helped shape sport and physical activity in Canada,” says Gardiner.

“I hope people look at what we did and start noticing the questions they never asked themselves, because that's what I experienced personally,” adds Sami Anguaya, a development officer in KPE’s alumni and advancement office.

Learning is what motivated Tricia McGuire-Adams to join the project. McGuire-Adams is an associate professor at KPE, studying the resurgence of Indigenous perspectives in kinesiology. She says she was eager to join KPE staff and students to learn more about Black Canadians’ achievement and experiences in sport.

“It was a truly meaningful experience and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow together,” she says.

Danielle Dobney, an assistant professor at KPE, says she enjoyed working and learning with other members of the KPE community and hopes the end result contributes to “a bigger presence of diversity in our spaces and conversations.”

U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:19:27 +0000

U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar Thu, 02/01/2024 - 15:19

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The 22nd edition of the Black History Month Luncheon, to be held at Hart House on Feb. 28, will feature former governor general Michaëlle Jean, top row, middle, as the keynote speaker (photo of Michaëlle Jean by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty, others by Johnny Guatto and Mariam Matti)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Black History Month Luncheon

Black History Month

Division of University Advancement

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Subheadline

The luncheon is one of many events taking place across U of T’s three campuses during Black History Month

Over the past two decades, the University of Toronto’s annual Black History Month Luncheon has grown in popularity and significance across U of T’s three campuses – and beyond.

Glen Boothe, the luncheon’s co-founder, attributes the event’s ongoing success to a “diversity for all” approach that stems from an inspiring mix of Black culture, history and, of course, delicious food.

“It gets bigger every year, and it’s heartening to see because that’s an indication that the message is resonating with more people,” says Boothe, who works for U of T’s division of advancement.

Michaëlle Jean (photo by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images)

This year’s luncheon – the 22nd edition of the event – will be held inside the Great Hall at Hart House on Feb. 28 and will feature keynote speaker Michaëlle Jean, the former governor general of Canada. She will be joined by spoken-word poet – and Ontario’s first poet laureate – Randell Adjei.

Boothe encourages those who cannot attend in-person to organize a viewing party and watch the livestream of the luncheon, which will be emailed to individuals who register for the event.

The luncheon will also have a separate program – and livestream – for students from high schools across Greater Toronto. They will be joined by Dalton Higgins, an author and journalist, Esie Mensah, a choreographer who has worked with Drake and Rihanna, Aiza, a singer and songwriter, Brandon Gonez, the CEO of Gonez Media, and Stacey McKenzie, a model and motivational speaker.

“We like to showcase the idea of Black excellence, especially to the high school students, to say to them, ‘This is what you can aspire to,’” Boothe says.

In 2022, U of T established the Black History Month Luncheon Award and committed to matching donations up to a total of $50,000. The award supports a Black undergraduate student in financial need. Air Canada is one of the sponsors of the event and has donated airline tickets for a raffle. The lunch is also sponsored by Coca-Cola and TD Bank.

Randell Adjei (photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)

The luncheon is one of many events across U of T’s three campuses that mark Black History Month.

From workshops to events highlighting Black authors, U of T Mississauga has a full program of Black History Month events, including a dinner and a welcome ceremony on Feb. 2 in the Kaneff Centre rotunda.

At U of T Scarborough, a tri-campus event called Our Stories on Feb. 7 will elevate the voices of international students with a focus on Black History Month – one of several events happening on the campus in February.

On the St. George campus, there’s a wide array of Black History Month events and programming offered by faculties, departments and other campus organizations. Details can be found at the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, Hart House and U of T Libraries, among others. They include a series of free events – organized by libraries at U of T, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto Public Library and York University – to improve coverage of Black histories on Wikipedia and Wikidata, and a student-run Black hackathon organized by the U of T chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.

As for the luncheon, Booth says he is thankful for the ongoing support.

“Initially this was an event within our community and now I feel everybody’s support and excitement.”

Black History Month Luncheon to celebrate Black excellence, community and great food

mattimar — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:22:31 +0000

Black History Month Luncheon to celebrate Black excellence, community and great food

mattimar Thu, 02/23/2023 - 09:22

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The highly anticipated U of T Black History Month Luncheon returns as an in-person event on Feb. 24 inside Hart House's Great Hall (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Black History Month

Division of University Advancement

Hart House

The University of Toronto’s Black History Month Luncheon is all about Black excellence, great food and celebrating community – themes that are front-and-centre this year as the event returns in-person.

After two years of virtual celebrations due to the pandemic, the 2023 edition of the annual luncheon will be held Feb. 24 inside Hart House’s Great Hall and will feature keynote speaker Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Glen Boothe, who works for U of T’s division of advancement and is the co-founder of the luncheon, says he is looking forward to bringing the community together again.

“We’ve missed that sense of camaraderie,” says Boothe. “The past couple of years have been really challenging for all of us. This year, we are really highlighting the celebration part.”

This year’s event also includes musical performances and spoken word poetry by Eddie Lartey, winner of the 2022 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam.

Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), speaks at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (photo by Yu Ruidong/China News Service via Getty Images)

As for Bailey, he first joined TIFF in 1990 as a seasonal programmer and has held several leadership roles in the organization. He founded the festival’s Planet Africa section and has been instrumental in shaping the way audiences experience films.

He has also worked as a critic, contributing to NOW Magazine, CBC Radio One and CTV’s Canada AM. He taught a programming and curation course at U of T, drawing in from his own experience at TIFF.

“His professional accomplishments speak for themselves,” says Boothe. “And his contributions to the community have been outstanding.”

At U of T Mississauga, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is hosting a celebration and group viewing of Bailey’s keynote address.

There will also be a livestream of the luncheon for those who cannot attend in-person.

Boothe says organizers are making a few tweaks to the in-person event this year – including setting aside more time for the lunch itself.

“Let’s all get together and see our commonalities. We all have more in common than in differences,” he says. “We all enjoy food, music and excellence.”

There’s also a separate in-person program – and a separate livestream – for students attending the luncheon from different high schools across the GTA.

“There will be about 150 students seated in the East Common Room at Hart House,” Boothe says. “We tried to cater the programming for students in hopes that it will resonate more with them.

The university established the Black History Month Luncheon Fund last year and committed to matching donations up to a total of $50,000. The needs-based fund will be awarded to a Black student enrolled in a U of T undergraduate program. Air Canada is one of the sponsors of the event and has donated airline tickets for a raffle, with representatives from the airline participating in the event to present the prize. Money will also be raised for the Francisco Bursary, which goes to a Black or Indigenous student.

When Boothe first started the luncheon more than 20 years ago, he hoped that other faculties and departments would be inspired to organize their own events in celebration of Black History Month.

Today, he notes, there is Black History Month programming across the university’s three campuses while the luncheon itself has become a both a proud tradition and a marquee event.

“The university has really embraced the celebration of Black history and Black excellence.”

The Good Word: U of T lecturer explores lineage, faith and Black history in spoken word album

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 17:14:48 +0000

The Good Word: U of T lecturer explores lineage, faith and Black history in spoken word album

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 02/21/2023 - 12:14

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Andrea Thompson, a sessional lecturer at U of T Mississauga, has dug deep into her roots – and the lives of Black historical figures – in The Good Word (photo by Brenda Clews)

Topic

One of Andrea Thompson’s treasured family photographs shows a young couple seated with their twin daughters. A beam of light bathes the family of four in a warm glow.

Thompson, a sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto Mississauga, says one of the little girls is her great-grandmother Emiline, a woman whom she remembers visiting when she was a child. Emiline later married the son of Cornelius Thompson, who escaped from slavery by following the Underground Railroad.

“We used to play tag around her chair, because she didn’t move much,” says Thompson. “And that’s pretty much all I remember about her, which is so sad because I was a kid and didn’t appreciate who she was.”

While she may not have fully understood her ancestors’ experiences when she was a child, Thompson has now dug deep into her roots – and the lives of Black historical figures – to tell their harrowing stories in her new spoken word album The Good Word.

The album focuses on the experiences of historical Black figures, including Harriet Tubman, American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr. Its cover image is the family photograph featuring Emiline. For Thompson, the snapshot portrays what the album is about: lineage, faith and the historical Black experience – with the sounds of gospel and spirituals driving these stories.

She says she felt driven to create The Good Word a few years after she completed her spoken word album Soulorations in collaboration with composer Evren Oz. A track from that album inspired The Good Word.

“It talks about the influence of Black history on the spoken word, going from slavery up until contemporary times,” Thompson says. “We played with some gospel elements in terms of music ... and I thought that it was the strongest track on the album by far.”

The track also had doses of spirituals – which, historically, were used as covert communication to help slaves escape.

“The song Harriet Tubman used, Go Down Moses, was a song that they would have sang in code as a covert way to start making plans for escape,” she explains.

Thompson adds that her newfound Christian faith inspired her to create a spoken word album that takes listeners on a journey to the intersection of faith and Black history.

“There are these misconceptions connecting Christianity with a right-wing, conservative, white demographic and, for me, that’s not it at all,” says Thompson, who adds that she had a very profound personal experience that led her to embrace the Christian faith five years ago. “A lot of the civil rights movement was focused around faith and the leaders were faith leaders ... and this has been the bedrock of Black North American history.

“I wanted to explore that.”

The Good Word contains a track about Thompson’s paternal ancestor, Cornelius Thompson, who escaped slavery and later became a Baptist minister. The track details his escape, his emotional and physical scars from being a slave and poses questions.

“Did he pray for me and my cousins, thinking someday in the future there’s going to be this generation of people who are born free and have none of these scars? There are so many questions,” she says.

Thompson adds that the album is deeply meaningful for her because it’s partly an expression of her Christian identity.

“It’s representative of how I’m maturing with my style – especially with the mixing of the singing and the spirituals. It’s like my full self is here and my history is here and my teacher hat is here,” she says, adding that she hopes the album serves as a reminder of the importance of Christianity within Black history.

“To me, there’s a real deep-rooted connection between the Black community and the Christian faith,” she says.

The Good Word album release party will take place on Feb. 22 at Poetry Jazz Café in Toronto at 7 p.m.

Two of Canada’s first Black doctors commemorated: Toronto Star

bresgead — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 16:42:59 +0000

Two of Canada’s first Black doctors commemorated: Toronto Star

bresgead Tue, 02/14/2023 - 11:42

Cutline

(Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Topic

Our Community

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Unity Health

Alumni

Black History Month

St. Michael's Hospital

The University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Heritage Toronto recently co-presented two commemorative plaques celebrating two of Canada’s first Black doctors – Alexander Augusta and Anderson Abbott – at Seeley Hall, the Toronto Star reports.

The plaques, set to be installed in May, are intended to “take a step towards equity,” Nav Persaud told the newspaper. A staff physician at St. Michael’s Hospital and an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Persaud co-authored a paper in the Canadian Medical Education Journal last year examining the legacies of Augusta and Abbott and calling for the 19th-century physicians to be included in medical curricula to teach trainees about the history of racism in medical schools and how that contributes to modern-day health disparities.

Rejected by U.S. medical schools, Augusta became the first Black medical student in Canada West when he was granted admission to U of T’s Trinity College in the early 1850s. After receiving his degree in 1860, Augusta worked for several years as a physician in Toronto before returning to the U.S. to serve in the Civil War, becoming the first African-American surgeon in the Union Army. Abbott, one of Augusta’s mentees, earned his medical licence in 1861, becoming the first Canadian-born doctor of African descent.

Black History Month 2023: What's on across U of T's three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 17:58:26 +0000

Black History Month 2023: What's on across U of T's three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 02/01/2023 - 12:58

Cutline

Volunteers serve food at the annual Black History Month Luncheon three years ago, when the event was last held in-person (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Adina Bresge

Topic

City & Culture

Black Founders Network

Canadian Black Scientists Network

Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office

Black

Black History Month

Cinema Studies

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Film

Hart House

Innis College

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Rotman School of Management

Toronto International Film Festival

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

From dance parties to thought-provoking panels and celebrations of Black excellence, the University of Toronto is hosting a wide array of events across the three campuses to mark Black History Month.

Members of the U of T community will have the chance to come together to learn, reflect, share stories, have fun and engage in self-care at conferences, cultural events and celebrations throughout February.

Rounding out the calendar is the annual Black History Month Luncheon, which is being held in-person and will spotlight Toronto International Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey.

Here’s a sampling of the events on offer throughout the month.

Feb 1. – Feb. 4

BE-STEMM 2023 Conference

The Canadian Black Scientists Network is hosting a four-day virtual conference that brings together researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine and Health (STEMM). The agenda includes talks by leading Black scholars across disciplines, networking sessions and opportunities to mentor the next generation of scientists.

Feb. 1

Ghetto Fabulous: Black Y2K Party

Time to pull out your finest threads from the 1990s and 2000s for this throwback bash, hosted by the Black Students’ Association at U of T, reclaiming the word “ghetto” and celebrating the Black subculture of the era.

Feb. 2 – Feb. 3

Re/Viewing, Re/Visioning, and Re/Imagining Black Canada Symposium

This two-day symposium, co-hosted by U of T and York University, will provide a forum for Canadian and American scholars to reckon with themes raised in the recent volume Unsettling the Great White North: Black Canadian History, published by University of Toronto Press. The event will engage participants in the latest debates, research and theories in Black Canadian history/studies to better understand how scholarship has evolved to offer a more expansive and nuanced view of Black Canadian experiences.

Feb. 4

Black Excellence Kiki Ball

You better bring your A game to this sports-themed kiki at U of T's Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. Guests can warm up with a beginner-friendly vogue dance workshop led by Legendary House Mother Snoopy of the Disney Kiki House. Then get ready for a ballroom battle celebrating game-changing Black athletes such as Colin Kaepernick, Simone Biles and Venus and Serena Williams.

Feb. 6

Black History Month Symposium – What Has Changed: The Role of Attitudinal Barriers to Advancing Black Inclusion

Hosted by the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office, this event will examine attitudinal barriers that contribute to anti-Black racism in post-secondary environments and discuss strategies to address this systemic problem. It includes a performance by U of T alumna Michelle Bookal and opening remarks by Njoki Wane, chair of the department of social justice education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), and Charmaine Williams, dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Panellists include: Cherilyn Scobie Edwards, director of the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Office at U of T Scarborough; Andrew Campbell, assistant professor at OISE; Nancy Simms, adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law; and Teeanna Munro, project co-ordinator in the Black Perspectives Office at Concordia University.

Feb. 8

Kickoff Panel for Black Histories Wikipedia & Wikidata Edit-a-thon

This is your chance to contribute to Wikipedia through a series editing sessions focused on Black histories. The events are co-organized by U of T and other universities in collaboration with the Toronto Public Library. Funké Aladejebi, an assistant professor in the department of history in the Faculty of Arts & Science, moderates the kickoff panel featuring multidisciplinary artist Debbie Ebanks Schlums and Jonsaba Jabbi, co-founder of Building A Black Archive.

Feb. 9

Tastes of Culture 2022-23: African Perspective

U of T Mississauga’s International Education Centre and Hart House co-present this virtual cooking session that will bring the tastes of Ghana to your home kitchen. Chef Kwame Owusu-Afriyie Nsafoah will show how to make stewed black-eyed peas and krakro (plantain fritters) to be paired with jollof rice and stuffed into a burrito.

Feb. 9

The Intersecting Identities that Inspire Our Excellence

The Dalla Lana School of Public Health hosts a celebration of Black leaders across a range of fields for a discussion on how their intersecting identities inform their work. Panellists include: Toronto Argonauts linebacker Hénoc Muamba; Celina Caesar-Chavannes, a former MP and business consultant; Jason Faulkner, owner and clothing designer of Spread Love; Stella Djulus, visual artist and founder of Arts by Stella; and Kevin Allwood, owner of Allwood MKRT & KaSpace Café.

Feb. 10

Rest as Resistance

This session, hosted by Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office, invites Black participants to slow down and engage in community care. After starting the session with gentle meditation and movement, Yamikani Msosa will facilitate a dialogue about how both rest and action can be forms of resistance in the fight against anti-Black racism.

Feb. 13

Pop-Up Barbershop

Get a free trim, fade or braid while testing your hip-hop knowledge at this pop-up hosted by Hart House Hip Hop Education in partnership with beauty services finder Fyyne, co-founded by Jeff Fasegha, a U of T graduate and a member of the of the Black Founders Network.

Feb. 15

Our Stories: Black History Month

Learn from the lived experiences of three U of T students as they share their stories at this virtual event co hosted by U of T Scarborough’s International Student Centre, U of T Mississauga’s International Education Centre and the St. George Centre for International Experience.

Feb. 16

Black Health Leaders Recognition Ceremony

The Dalla Lana School of Public Health hosts its inaugural recognition ceremony celebrating Black leaders in Toronto’s public health and health systems. This year’s recipients are: Fatimah Jackson-Best, project manager at the Black Health Alliance and assistant professor at McMaster University; Cynthia Damba, director of health analytics at Ontario Health, Toronto Region; and Jacqueline Silvera, director of inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility and anti-racism with the University of Health Network.

Feb. 17

Hip Hop Family Skate Day

Skaters of all ages are invited to hit the ice at Varsity Arena and glide along to the sounds of hip-hop, R&B and Afrobeats curated by DJ Mel Boogie. Professional figure skaters Chloe Panetta and Kieran Thrasher will be on hand to offer tips and perform a routine.

Feb. 22

Black Ice: Film Screening and Panel Discussion

U of T's Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), Innis College and the Cinema Studies Institute present a special screening of Black Ice, an acclaimed documentary tracing the history of anti-Black racism in hockey, from the 19th century to the present-day. Director Hubert Davis will join KPE faculty members Janelle Joseph and Simon Darnell for a discussion of the film, which counts LeBron James, Drake and Maverick Carter as executive producers.

Feb. 23

Panel Discussion on Black-Led Community Space

Isaac Olowolafe Jr. of the Dream Legacy Foundation, Amina Mohamed of the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation and Alica Hall of Nia Centre for the Arts engage in conversation about the need for community spaces built by and for Black communities. The event – sponsored by the Infrastructure Institute at U of T’s School of Cities and co-hosted by the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation – comes on the heels of a joint report examining gaps in public investment in and access to Black-led social infrastructure in Toronto.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Feb. 24

21st Annual Black History Month Luncheon

TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey is set to give the keynote address at this year’s celebration of Black excellence, continuing a more than two-decade-long tradition that has become Black History Month’s marquee event at the university. Community members will come together at Hart House and be treated to delicious food, captivating speakers and dynamic performances.

Feb. 25

Future Black Business Leaders Conference

Black business leaders will share their tips for success with the next generation of power players at this conference hosted by the Rotman School of Management. Attendees will have the chance to connect with top industry professionals and learn more about Rotman’s scholarships and awards for future Black leaders.

Feb. 28

Lecture/Recital with Beau Dixon

Actor, musician and playwright Beau Dixon returns to U of T to discuss his creation and curation of the Stratford Festival’s Freedom Cabaret 2.0: How Black Music Shaped the Dream of America. The event will also feature performances by Dixon and singers from the Faculty of Music.

Feb. 28

The Self-Care Fair

There are plenty of ways to decompress at this Hart House event aimed at encouraging self-care for Black students. Relaxing activities include painting, aromatherapy ball-making, guided meditation, massages and board games.

Black History Month

Author and historian Rosemary Sadlier, who led the adoption of Black History Month across Canada, receives U of T honorary degree

Uncovering untold stories: U of T course explores Black Canadian history

Four U of T leaders speak to CBC News about being Black in academia, inspiring future generations

Watch the CBC News interview

Canadian Black Scientists Network screens doc on Black astronauts as part of its advocacy efforts

Shaping the future of STEMM

Kinesiology students, staff and faculty create virtual tour to highlight Black history in sport

U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

Black History Month Luncheon to celebrate Black excellence, community and great food

The Good Word: U of T lecturer explores lineage, faith and Black history in spoken word album

Two of Canada’s first Black doctors commemorated: Toronto Star

Read more at the Toronto Star

Black History Month 2023: What's on across U of T's three campuses