Celebrate Black History Month with UCalgary

Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate Canada’s rich history — a chance to learn about important Black Canadians and celebrate their contributions.

The University of Calgary is celebrating Black History Month through a series of stories and virtual events. Throughout February, UCalgary invites the community to share in conversations about anti-racism, art history, literature, mental health and more.

• Photo above: Violet King is presented with a purse by the Calgary local of the International Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in June 1954. Violet King was the first Black Canadian to obtain a law degree in Alberta and the first Black female lawyer in Canada. "Railway porters presentation to Violet King, Calgary, Alberta." 1954, The Albertan. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives, Archives and Special Collections

Dr. Malinda Smith, vice-provost, equity, diversity and inclusion, says the month of February is an opportunity to delve into Alberta’s extraordinarily interesting and complex Black historical experience.

“More Canadians should know the names Lulu Anderson and Violet King,” says Smith. “Why, as Canadians, do we know American history better than our own history?”

Smith has been instrumental in promoting equity and diversity in research, teaching and learning, to help facilitate inclusive culture. She is a nationally recognized leader in equity, diversity and inclusion.

“Black History Month is about learning from our experiences, so we don’t repeat history in a way that excludes Black Canadians and their accomplishments.” Smith says. “It's about acknowledging the important stories that helped define our country.” 

Register now for Black History Month events at UCalgary

Feb 2

• Black History Month: Let’s Talk: How to be Actively Anti-Racist with Cynthia Okafor
  During this event, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a conversation on racism and what it means to be actively anti-racist.

Feb. 4

• Simone Saunders: Tufting our Time
  Simone is an award-winning Canadian artist, creating hand-tufted textiles of colourful portraiture celebrating womanhood that are rooted in a rich and vibrant Black History. She was included in the Bank of Montreal’s National 1^st Art! Competition, as the national winner of 2020. 

Feb 5

• Black History Month – Let’s Talk: Uncovering Black Art History in Canada with Dr. Charmaine Nelson
  During this event, Dr. Nelson will uncover the historical and contemporary forms of Black art across Canada.

• Dr. Afua Cooper
  This event will feature a presentation by Dr. Afua Cooper and poetry performances by two dynamic Calgary poets: AloT of Poetry and Nyabuoy.

• Black History Month: Law, History and Education
  In this event, there will be a conversation with Dr. Barrington Walker and Dr. Funké Aladejebi about law, history and education.

Feb. 8

• Black History Month – Let’s talk: The Power of the N-Word in Academia with Dr. Georgette Hardy DeJesus  
  During this event, Dr. Hardy DeJesus discuss her article and recent research on “The N-Word in Academia: The Psychology of Employing an Epithet” by uncovering the historical, social and psychological implications of this term.

Feb 10

• Roundtable discussion on Black Fatherhood and Masculinity 
  In this interactive discussion, many aspects of Black fatherhood and masculinity will be explored.  

Feb. 11

• Black History Month – Let’s Watch: John Ware Reclaimed with Cheryl Foggo 
  Cheryl will introduce her film John Ware Reclaimed with a brief exploration of how the commitment of a small group of women on the University of Calgary campus played a role in getting the story to the screen.

• TLRO: Black Canadians’ Mental Health
  During this event, join Dr. Regine King to learn about actions Calgarians can take to address the criminalization of Black Canadians. Understand what culturally relevant mental health services look like and how they can contribute to health and equity. 

Feb. 24

• Courageous Conversations: “Untold Stories: Black Student Experiences in Calgary”
  Dr. Marlon Simmons from the Werklund School of Education at UCalgary will be joined by two UCalgary students, Dr. Kojo Otoo and Eric Ofori-Atta, to discuss what systems are in place to support university access for Black students. Registration opens soon.

Feb 25

• Black History Month – Let’s Talk: The Value of Black Literature with Dr. Suzette Mayr 
  During this event, Dr. Mayr will be uncovering the value of Black literature and history in Canada and discussing the creative writing process behind her novel-in-progress, The Sleeping Car Porter, a historical novel about a Black, queer railway porter.

• An Afternoon With Lawrence Hill
  Lawrence Hill is known for his 2007 novel The Book of Negroes, inspired by the Black Loyalists given freedom and resettled in Nova Scotia by the British after the American Revolutionary War, and his 2001 memoir Black Berry, Sweet Juice: on Being Black and White in Canada.

Feb 26

• Cross-Faculty Dialogue on Anti-Black Racism Initiatives 
  Join the conversation as the Faculty of Social Work leads a discussion on anti Black Racism initiatives on UCalgary campus.