CELEBRATE AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2019
Sharing the History and Culture of African Nova
Scotians
This year’s African Heritage Month provincial theme, Our
History is YOUR History, recognizes the unique history of African Nova
Scotians and how it is interwoven with the past, present and future of all Nova
Scotians. Our theme also aligns with the
United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD). The
goal of DPAD is to strengthen global cooperation in support of people of
African descent as they strive for full inclusion in all aspects of society.
Nova Scotia has over 50 historic African Nova Scotian
communities with a long, deep and complex history dating back over 200 years.
African Heritage Month provides us with another opportunity to celebrate our
culture, legacy, achievements and contributions of our people – past and
present.
When we all acknowledge and understand the truth of our province’s
shared history, we can all look to the future with confidence and optimism.
From the beginning
The commencement of African Heritage Month is traced
back to 1926. Harvard-educated Black historian, Carter G. Woodson, founded
Negro History Week to recognize the achievements made by African Americans.
Woodson purposefully chose February because of the
birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln who were both key figures in
the emancipation of enslaved Blacks. In
1976, Negro History Week was expanded to Black History Month before being
celebrated in Canada in early 1950.
Black
History Month in Canada
For over the past decades, contributions of
African-Canadians have been acknowledged informally, however Nova Scotia has
set a path for Canada’s recognition of African Heritage Month. Our province has
been a leader in the promotion and recognition of our African heritage to our
country. Some efforts of Nova Scotia
include:
- 1985 – The “official” opening night of Black History
Month at the North Branch Library
- 1987 – First meeting of the Black History Month
Association
- 1988 – First Black History Month in Nova Scotia
- 1996 – Black History Month renamed to African Heritage
Month in Nova Scotia
We believe some of these efforts have influenced our
country to take action on a national level:
- 1995 – The House of Commons officially recognized
February as Black History Month following a motion introduced by the Honourable
Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
- 2008 – The Senate officially declared February as
Black History Month by Nova Scotia Senator Donald Oliver, Q.C., the first Black
man appointed to the Senate. His motion
was the final parliamentary procedure needed for Canada’s permanent recognition
of Black History Month.
About the
African Heritage Month Information Network
The African Heritage Month Information Network (AHMIN)
is a partnership between the Black Cultural Society, African Nova Scotian
Affairs, African Nova Scotian Music Association, African Nova Scotian
North-Central Network, African Heritage Month Southwest Network, Africville
Heritage Trust, Black Educators Association, Black History Month Association,
Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association, Valley African Nova Scotian
Development Association, Halifax Regional Municipality’s African Nova Scotian
Integration Office, and Guysborough, Antigonish Strait African Regional
Network.
Each year, we produce an educational poster that is distributed and
displayed in community gathering centers, schools, churches, government offices
and businesses. Those interested in ordering a copy, please visit www.bccns.com/ahmposter.
The AHMIN also facilitates African Heritage Month events and municipal proclamations
across the province. A full listing is available at http://www.ansa.novascotia.ca/african-heritage-month.
For more information
about African History Month, please contact:
Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia
Phone: (902) 434-6223
Email: contact@bccns.com
African Heritage Month 2018
