Celebrating Black history, African heritage focus of February events

Brock University will mark Black History Month/African Heritage Month (BHM/AHM) this February with a robust lineup of programming.

Focusing on the theme of intersectionality, the month will celebrate the heritage and culture of Black faculty, staff and students and their communities, while also recognizing overlapping and intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination and discrimination.

Shaka Licorish, Anti-Racism and Inclusion Advisor in Brock’s Human Rights and Equity (HRE) office, said February is a celebratory reflection of Black excellence and highlights the ongoing commitment to advancing anti-racism initiatives, human rights, equity and inclusion across campus.

“As a signatory of the Scarborough Charter, the University is rallying behind a shared acknowledgement and recognition of the experiences of African scholars, students and staff,” he said. “This year’s programming is a strong reflection of the BHM/AHM working group coming together to do this important work across the University, both during this month and throughout the year.”

All are encouraged to attend the launch event, which will be held on Monday, Feb. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rankin Family Pavilion. Live music from Niagara’s PK Hummingbird Steel Orchestra will begin at 9:30 a.m. and set the tone for the day. Speeches and a preview of the month’s programming will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a Black Vendor Market, featuring student and alumni-run local businesses, beginning at noon to close out the event.

Aishah Sonekan, Research Assistant in Anti-Racism and Inclusion with HRE, said working alongside a passionate and dedicated group of individuals from across campus has been a “fulfilling experience.”

“This is a chance to rethink the ways in which we highlight Black/African experiences and to renew our commitment to learning about Black and African heritage in Canada,” she said. “I’m particularly excited to reconnect Brock University with the Niagara community through the Black Vendor Market, which encourages everyone to support Black-owned businesses and shows that being Black is more than being resilient, but also about being creative, innovative and entrepreneurial.”

More than 40 events are planned throughout the month, including film screenings; workshops that unpack race, intersectionality and relationships; personal and professional development opportunities; and social gatherings and culinary experiences that celebrate the rich culture and triumphs of those who identify as Black, African and/or Caribbean. Students can also participate in experiential learning opportunities to engage with guest speakers of Black or African descent during several course integrations planned during the month.

Justin Mafie — a Computer Science student, Peer Assistant at the Black Student Success Centre, and Research Assistant in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within HRE — was tasked with designing imagery that is reflective of the themes and significance of the month.

He was inspired by the work of civil rights activist Audre Lorde, who discusses the interconnected nature of struggles such as sexism, racism and other systematic forms of oppression, as well as the Sankofa symbol, which underscores the importance of understanding the complexities of those interconnected relationships.

“These symbols embody the importance of returning to the past to retrieve valuable knowledge and traditions for building a better future, which also aligns seamlessly with The Scarborough Charter’s commitments to addressing systematic barriers by acknowledging historical justice and fostering accountability from institutions,” said Mafie, who transferred to Brock in 2020 from Taylor’s University in Malaysia to study Computer Sciences. “I hope that in doing this work, I’m contributing to building a community within Brock that appreciates, learns and understands what Black History Month and African Heritage Month really means.”

A list of events can be found on the BHM/AHM ExperienceBU page and schedule at a glance.


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