In Canada
Find resources to learn about Black history in Canada.
From the 2021 CBC Massey Lectures by Esi Edugyan
- Lecture # 2: Canada and the Art of GhostsSUMMARY: Listen to the Ideas program episode featuring the full recording the second of Esi Edugyan's 2021 Massey Lectures
" "The stories we tell about the dead act as clarifying narratives to explain what has shaped us, and what continues to make us who we are," argues Esi Edugyan in her second Massey Lecture. However, she asks: who is being forgotten and why? When some histories are forgotten, we all lose. Recovering our ghosts is a way of redressing the narrative."
- About Black History MonthSOURCE: Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada
- Black History in CanadaSOURCE: The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Black History in CanadaSOURCE: Library and Archives Canada
SUMMARY: An extensive list of resources, including: Research at Library and Archives Canada, research in published sources, and
research at other institutions and online - BLACK COMMUNITIES IN CANADA: A RICH HISTORY (AGES 15-17)SOURCE: National Film Board of Canada
SUMMARY: "This playlist is intended to provide a glimpse of the multi-layered lives of Canada’s diverse Black communities. The incredible stories of strength, courage, and perseverance in the face of adversity found in these films are rarely found in mainstream history books, making them an important classroom resource."
- The Black Lives Canada Syllabus #BlackLivesCDNSyllabusSUMMARY: Google document maintained by Huda Hussan. "This is a collection of multiple resources to help illuminate the context of black life and black history in Canada because “crowd-sourced syllabi are acts of resistance.” This hashtag was developed by Anthony Morgan, a lawyer and community advocate, after questions surrounding the necessity of Black Lives Matter Toronto sparked off after the group’s protests at Pride on July 3rd, 2016".
- Black Enslavement in CanadaSOURCE: The Canadian Encyclopedia
- The story of slavery in Canadian history: It happened here, tooSOURCE: Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Author: Matthew McRae
- Black History and Anti-racism in CanadaSOURCE: Department of Education, Government of Manitoba
- Noteworthy historical figuresSOURCE: Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada
SUMMARY: This list from 2018 shares several dozen short biographies of Black Canadians. - Africville Heritage Trust and MuseumSUMMARY: "In 2010, the people of Africville finally received an apology for the loss of their community from the city of Halifax. A settlement was reached which established the Africville Heritage Trust that extends to the Museum. The Trust is managed by a volunteer board that is primarily made up of members of the Africville community. Today, the Africville Museum looks across the land where the people of Africville lived, worked, and raised their families by the water of Bedford Basin. Inside the Museum, exhibits tell the story of a community that met the indignities of racism with grace and faith."
- Amherstburg Freedom MuseumSUMMARY: "The Amherstburg Freedom Museum, previously known as ‘the North American Black Historical Museum’, is located in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada. It is a community-based, non-profit museum that tells the story of African-Canadians’ history and contributions."
- Black sleeping car porters. The struggle for Black labour rights on Canada’s railwaysSOURCE: Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Author: Travis Tomchuk
- Portraits de NoirsBalado présenté par RCI qui présente une série de capsules sur des Noirs qui ont marqué l’histoire passée du Canada et qui se démarquent dans le Canada aujourd’hui.
- Being Black in CanadaSOURCE: CBC
- OPINION To shape the future, look to past Black Canadian activismSOURCE: The Globe and Mail. author: Bee Quammie
Proud of our history - Black History Month
SOURCE: Canadian Heritage
Viola Desmond
The video above is shared by Black Halifax - Stories from Here.
- One Women's Resistance: Viola Desmond's StorySOURCE: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
"A Worthy Fight" Women's Health in Women's Hands
- "Women's Health in Women's Hands" Community Health CentreWomen's Health in Women's Hands is the first and only community health centre in Canada to focus on providing primary health care to racialized women.
Africville: The Black community bulldozed by the city of Halifax
Additional resources
- Africville MuseumSUMMARY: The community's museum in Halifax.
- Remembering Africville: Source GuideSOURCE: Halifax Regional Municipality
SUMMARY: This page provides access to many City records and photographs related Halifax's destruction of Africville.