In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson—a Black historian who earned his PhD at Harvard University—proposed to establish a time to honour the achievements of Black Americans and increase awareness about Black history. The movement later expanded to Canada, where residents continue this tradition by observing Black History Month each February.
How can you get involved as a member of the Victoria College community? The Strand searched the web and reached out to Victoria College student communities to find out.
Events with the Victoria Black Student Network
The Victoria Black Student Network (BLVCK) shared three events that students can attend in February. The mission of BLVCK is “to celebrate black culture and educate on black issues at Vic and within the greater UofT student body,” as it notes on the Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council (VUSAC) website.
Opening on February 1, BLVCK is running a raffle named “A Taste of Black History Month” for Victoria College students. The prizes are a selection of books written by Black authors, noted BLVCK in an email.
Later, on February 11, BLVCK is screening “BLVCK Valentine’s,” a “Movie Night/Doc and Talk” in order “to showcase underrepresented Black love stories in celebration of Valentine’s Day.”
Near the end of the month on February 25, BLVCK is hosting “Victoria BLVCK Futures,” which provides “Victoria College undergraduate students the opportunity to network with a panel of Black Victoria College alumni from a variety of faculties/disciplines.”
Community members can learn more about BLVCK on its Facebook and Instagram webpages.
Reading recommendations on Black history with Boundless Books at Victoria College
Boundless Books—a recently-created Victoria College club that aims “to amplify the voices of writers who identify as women, BIPOC, and/or members of the LGBTQ+ community,” according to Natasha Cross, Co-President of Boundless Books—has highlighted literature for readers to explore during Black History Month.
“[T]he first book that we read as a club and really enjoyed was Brother by David Chariandy,” noted Cross. “[I]t is a fictional novel set in Scarborough, but it is highly based on David Chariandy’s personal experiences with racism as a Black person in Ontario.”
“We thought this novel was particularly valuable as it highlights Canada’s racism and police brutality against the Black community (which is so often neglected), especially with it being set so close to Toronto,” she continued. “I would also like to personally recommend the collection of poems Voodoo Hypothesis by Canisia Lubrin.”
Reflecting on the importance of representation of BIPOC people in literature, Cross wrote: “Reading can be such a powerful way to relieve stress, broaden horizons, and educate ourselves on world events… by engaging in meaningful discussion and providing free book copies to our club members, we hope to make diverse literature more accessible to everyone.”
UofT to host 2021 Black History Symposium
The University of Toronto’s Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office is also set to host its 2021 Black History Symposium—named “Honoring the Diversity of Black Leaders and Agents of Change”—on February 8 from 10 am to 12 pm.
The goal of the conference is to “explore anti-Black racism activism in diverse spaces and the role of post-secondary environments in transforming anti-Black racism advocacy,” according to the event’s website.
Featured speakers include faculty at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE); the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work; and the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Office at UofT Scarborough, along with experts involved in the non-profit sector. Registration for the conference is free, with plans to host the event on Zoom.
UofT is also hosting a film screening with a question-and-answer session for Ninth Floor, a documentary about a 1969 crisis at Sir George Williams University in Montreal, which is now part of Concordia University. Hundreds of activists, according to CBC News, became involved in a sit-in from January 27 to February 11 of that year, which resulted in the arrests of 97 students. Registration is also free for the screening, which will be held from 12 pm to 2 pm.
Across UofT and Victoria College, community members can still find events to learn more and celebrate Black History Month in a world of social distancing due to COVID-19. Students and professional groups may also announce more opportunities to learn more about Black history throughout the month.
