Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a special statement today recognizing the beginning of Black History Month in Canada. The Prime Minister's statement encourages citizens "honour the legacy of Black Canadians... and reflect on the many contributions they have made to our country." At the same time, he emphasizes "the importance of learning about Black experiences in Canada, recognizing and addressing injustices, and building back better together".
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the commemoration in Canada, which was introduced by Canada's first black female MP, Jean Augustine, in 1995. February was first officially recognized as Black History Month in the United States in 1970; the timing was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln.
For a topical read, Canadian Studies recommends faculty affiliate Cecil S. Giscombe's writing on the Black communities of British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Giscombe's 2000 memoir Into and Out of Dislocation follows the writer's family through a winter in British Columbia, as he retraces the footsteps of the Jamaican pioneer (and possible relative) John Robert Giscome. The book mixes insights into the province's history and evocative geographical writing with deep meditations on the meaning of "otherness" and outsider status.