Black History Month
Languages: English
Media Editing: The video module(s) in this subject are editable under our Content Studio offering unless otherwise indicated. For more information about Content Studio, contact your CSM.
Description: Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the diverse history and importance of Black people, and the impact and contributions they've made to society in both the U.S. and Canada. This subject is intended to increase the collective knowledge of the past, and to celebrate and honor Black Americans and Canadians who made significant strides in the fight for equality. We also highlight the achievements of Black individuals who have made and continue to make enormous contributions to all sectors of society.
Languages: English
Media Editing: The video module(s) in this subject are editable under our Content Studio offering unless otherwise indicated. For more information about Content Studio, contact your CSM.
Description: Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the diverse history and importance of Black people, and the impact and contributions they've made to society in both the U.S. and Canada. This subject is intended to increase the collective knowledge of the past, and to celebrate and honor Black Americans and Canadians who made significant strides in the fight for equality. We also highlight the achievements of Black individuals who have made and continue to make enormous contributions to all sectors of society.
Languages: English
Media Editing: The video module(s) in this subject are editable under our Content Studio offering unless otherwise indicated. For more information about Content Studio, contact your CSM.
Description: Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the diverse history and importance of Black people, and the impact and contributions they've made to society in both the U.S. and Canada. This subject is intended to increase the collective knowledge of the past, and to celebrate and honor Black Americans and Canadians who made significant strides in the fight for equality. We also highlight the achievements of Black individuals who have made and continue to make enormous contributions to all sectors of society.
Topics
Black History Month (General Audience)
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Black History Month is an annual celebration and opportunity for us to continue to learn about the experiences, contributions, and achievements of Black people in shaping history. In this topic, you’ll learn some key facts about the origins of Black History Month and the anti-slavery movement. You’ll also learn about Black individuals who have made and continue to make enormous contributions to society.
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Questions (level 1)
Video module
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This topic is currently available in English.
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The celebration of Black History Month originated from Negro History Week which was established in 1926 by Black historian Carter G. Woodson and the association for African American Life and History (ASALH).
During the 1970s, the week of celebrating Black History became Black History Month. It is now celebrated in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
The theme for 2021 is “Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity”, which will explore the displacement of African people and the spread of Black families across the United States.
Two major anti-slavery newspapers, The Voice of the Fugitive and The Provincial Freeman, were founded in Canada during the 1850s to advance the anti-slavery movement across the world.
During the first half of the 19th century (1800-1865) around 30,000 Black people escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad and arrived in Canada from the United States.
Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery using the Underground Railroad and spent the rest of her life as an abolitionist, helping others escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. She also worked as a spy during the Civil War.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an African American civil rights leader who helped to lead the American civil rights movement, fighting for equality and rights for African Americans through peaceful protests. In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
On January 18, 1958, Canadian Willie O’Ree made his debut for the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, becoming the first Black player in the NHL.
Thurgood Marshall was an American lawyer and civil rights activist and was the first African American appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1967.
Dr. Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to go into space aboard the space shuttle Endeavor in 1992.
In 2008, Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first Black President.
In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first Black Vice President of the United States when Joe Biden was elected President. She is also the first VP to have graduated from a historically Black college or university (HBCU), Howard University.
On April 15th, 1947, 28-year-old Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball color barrier, becoming the first Black player in the league when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The MLB retired his iconic jersey number 42 in 1997, ensuring no other player would ever wear it again.
In 1987, Diane Abbott became the first Black woman to be elected to the British House of Commons, quickly becoming known for her support of various human rights issues.
Maya Angelou was a famous African American poet who was known for using her art to bring awareness to racial and sexual oppression.
Black History Month (Canadian Audience)
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February was officially recognized as Black History Month in Canada by the House of Commons in 1995, but its roots date back to the 1970s. In this topic, you’ll learn some key facts about the origins of Black History Month and the anti-slavery movement in Canada. You’ll also learn about Black Canadians who have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to our country.
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Questions (level 1)
Video module
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This topic is currently available in English.
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The celebration of Black History Month originated from Negro History Week, which was established in 1926 by Black historian Carter G. Woodson and the association for African American Life and History (ASALH).
During the 1970s, the week of celebrating Black History became Black History Month. It is now celebrated in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
February was officially recognized as Black History Month in Canada by the House of Commons in 1995, after a bill from the Hon. Jean Augustine. She was the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
The 2021 theme for Black History Month is “The Future is Now”, which is a call to action for us all to build on the legacy of those who came before us, and to recognize the transformative work that Black Canadians and their communities are doing now.
Two major anti-slavery newspapers, The Voice of the Fugitive and The Provincial Freeman, were founded in Canada during the 1850s to advance the anti-slavery movement across the world.
During the first half of the 19th century (1800-1865) around 30,000 Black people escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad and came to Canada from the United States.
Violet King was the first black woman to become a lawyer in Canada in 1954, breaking barriers throughout her life and legal career.
On January 18, 1958, Canadian Willie O’Ree made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut for the Boston Bruins, becoming the first Black player in NHL history.
Lincoln Alexander became the first Black Canadian to serve in the House of Commons after winning a seat in 1968. He also became the first Black Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1985.
Viola Davis Desmond is Black Canadian civil rights icon who protested segregation in a Halifax, Nova Scotia movie theatre in 1946. In 2018, she became the first Black person on a Canadian banknote when she was featured on the new $10 bill.
In 2005, Michaëlle Jean became the first Black person appointed as the Governor-General of Canada.
Rosemary Brown immigrated to Canada from Jamaica in 1951 and in 1972, while living in British Columbia, became Canada’s first Black female member of a provincial legislature.
Jean Augustine made history in 1993, becoming the first Black Canadian woman to be elected to Canada’s House of Commons.
On March 24th, 2021, the House of Commons collectively voted to officially designate August 1st Emancipation Day. Emancipation Day celebrates the strength and perseverance of Black communities in Canada.
The Canadian podcast Strong and Free was the 2022 winner for Best Black History podcast by the Black Podcasting Awards. This six-episode podcast showcases stories of Black Canadians both in the past and present who have contributed to building our country.
Elijah McCoy was a Black Canadian-American inventor and engineer. He held more than 50 patents in Canada, the U.S., France, Austria, Germany, Great Britain, and Russia. He is best known for inventing lubrication systems for steam engines.
Maestro Fresh-Wes was the first Canadian rapper to have a gold single (a song that sells 500,000 units). His 1989 debut single “Let your Backbone Slide”. He remained the best-selling Canadian hip-hop single of all time until 2008 when it was beaten by Kardinal Offishall’s “Dangerous”.
Donovan Bailey is a Jamaican-born Canadian sprinter. He is recognized as one of the greatest track stars in Canadian history. He set the 100m world record at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, where he became the world’s fastest man with a running time of 9.84 seconds in the 100m sprint. He won two gold medals at the Olympics that year.
Kaytranada is an award-winning Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. He’s won three Juno Awards, two Grammy Awards, and the 2016 Polaris Music Prize, among other honours.
Caribana, now known as the Toronto Caribbean Festival, was founded in 1967 by ten Torontonians with a common West Indian heritage. This annual festival promotes cultural pride, mutual respect, and social unity. It's considered one of the largest parades in North America.
