UPEI celebrates Black History Month 2024
Every year in February, we celebrate Black History Month. As we embrace the significance of Black History Month, we are reminded of the rich tapestry of contributions, resilience, triumphs, and the legacy of Black Canadians that have shaped our society. We also recognize the work that needs to be done within our societies and campus community to dismantle the systemic barriers that adversely impacts Black communities.
The Black Cultural Society (BCS) of Prince Edward Island’s theme for Black History Month 2024 is “Community as the Way Forward,” which resonates deeply with our core values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. It underscores the pivotal role that communities play in fostering unity, amplifying voices, and driving positive change. At UPEI, we recognize the power of community in advancing social justice, dismantling systemic barriers, and nurturing belonging for all. The BCS has a spectacular lineup of events for the month. Be sure to check out their website, and get involved.
Along with the BCS, we at UPEI are celebrating Black History Month in several ways. Our very own UPEI Black Student Association (BSA) has coordinated a raising of the Pan-African flag at the flag plaza between Kelley Memorial Building and the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on Friday, February 2, at 2:00 pm. All are welcome!
The Robertson Library is inviting the campus community to view its Black History Month display in the lobby and to check out a book on Black Canadians in history, education, or literature, or find e-books and other online resources in OneSearch.
UPEI Athletics and Recreation will mark Black History Month on Saturday, February 3, during the UPEI Women’s and Men’s Basketball Panthers games against the Dalhousie University Tigers at 6:00 and 8:00 pm respectively at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. As part of the celebration, players will warm up in t-shirts designed by local designer Niki Adeogun. And Shura Hanna, president and director of communications with the UPEI Black Student Association, will speak about Black History Month.
On February 8 from 5:00–7:00 pm, the BCS will host a panel discussion on campus at The Fox & Crow featuring UPEI students and faculty. BCS Executive Director Tamara Steele will moderate a discussion around the experiences of the Black post-secondary student population.
“Community as the way forward” reminds us that we all play a crucial role in building our social fabric. All members of the campus community are encouraged to check out the learning resources available through UPEI's partnership with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), such as "Racism and anti-Black racism" and "Navigating race in Canadian workplaces." A webinar titled "Celebrating Black History through story", which took place on February 1, will be available soon on the CCDI website in the CCDI Knowledge Repository.
Happy Black History Month!
