Embedded Files
Written by: Leena El-Said
Photos by: Leena El-Said and Blakelock's Instagram
Contributor: Ms. Turnbull
Black History Month (BHM) serves as a time to learn the true history of Black Canadians as well as recognize the many successes and contributions of Black individuals. In 1978, the Ontario Black History Society was founded by Black Canadian civil rights activists Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks who presented a petition to the City of Toronto to recognize February as Black History Month. In 1979, Toronto became the first Canadian city to proclaim February as Black History month. This was later officially recognized by all of Canada in 1995 due to the motion established by Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
Canada, and Oakville in particular, has been home to many Black families, farmers, and entrepreneurs dating back to the mid 19th century. These Black individuals were vital to the economy and prosperity of the community; their stories still resonate today.
While the stories and successes of Black Canadians often went ignored or hidden throughout history, Alvin Duncan, Oakville’s resident historian, kept these stories alive through his efforts to share personal narratives, photographs, and help in establishing the Black History Exhibit at the Oakville Museum.
Duncan was the great-grandson of Samuel Adams, a freeman who fled the United States through the Underground Railroads and settled in Oakville, becoming a prominent businessman in the community. Duncan’s work helped keep his story alive, as well as those of other Black Canadians.
BSU co-leader, Renée Lewis, selling stickers at the Afro-Caribbean Market.
A collection of the stickers sold by the BSU.
Blakelock’s own Black Student Union team (BSU) has played an active part throughout the month in further educating the school community as well as celebrating Black culture.
Throughout the month of February, as students entered the school, Black culture music such as reggae, rap, and R&B played over the announcements. Daily facts could also be heard over the announcements, each sharing new information surrounding the history and modern contributions and lives of the Black community.
On Monday, February 27, the BSU held its first ever Afro-Caribbean market at lunch, selling a variety of cultural food and drinks, such as the Jamaican patties, a huge hit amongst students at their previous Jamaican pattie sale in December.
The market provided an opportunity for students to learn more about black culture, expand their palate, and gain further appreciation for the unique cultural backgrounds within the school.
Puff-puffs, homemade Nigerian donuts sold at the Afro-Caribbean Market prepared by the BSU students.
Co-leader of Blakelock’s BSU, Cassie Ephrem, started the group this year after being a member of the Halton Black Student Union for several years. After working briefly with the iBlack voices (black grad coaches), she formed TAB’s BSU, and the union has continued growing as they’ve organized initiatives and events throughout the year.
Cassie Ephrem explained, “I just wanted to bring the Black students at Blakelock closer together since it gave a lot of the younger students someone to look up to, so that a lot of the younger Black grade nines can have representation of good role models in grade 11 and 12 that look like them…and I honestly just wanted to help run Black History Month properly at the school.”
While there still remains work to be done to further embrace equality and encourage cultural appreciation and respect at Blakelock, the events run by the BSU were pivotal in helping further educate the school community.
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