Black History Month celebrations are making a return to Lethbridge College’s campus. For the month of February, the college will spotlight the history and achievements of its diverse population while promoting inclusivity within the community.
Activities in February 2021 were predominately held online; however, organizers this year are planning several in-person events throughout the month.
“As we mark our fifth official celebration of Black History Month at Lethbridge College, we join people worldwide in celebrating Black excellence and the resiliency of members of the various Black communities wherever they find themselves,” says Ibrahim Turay, instructor in the School of Justice Studies and event organizer. “BHM also calls us to lift the voices and stories of Black peoples and other marginalized communities who tend to be suppressed or ignored because we live in a colour-blind society where race and skin colour shouldn’t matter, yet it does in determining the life outcomes of those whom society identifies as Black or Brown.”
Black History Month at Lethbridge College kicks off at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, in The Cave with opening remarks from Turay.
Other activities include a screening of John Ware Reclaimed at 2 p.m. Feb. 8 in the E.C. Fredericks Theatre. The film follows Cheryl Foggo as she examines the mythology around John Ware, a Black cowboy who settled in Alberta before the turn of the 20th century. Foggo aims to discover who this iconic figure was and what his legacy means in terms of anti-Black racism past and present. A panel discussion will follow the screening.
From Feb. 14 to 18, the Lethbridge College Students’ Association will be handing out Black History Month meal kits for Jollof Rice – an iconic West African dish. In addition, a Human Library, where students can “check out” a person just as they would a book and learn through engagement, stories and cultural knowledge, is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at Niitsitapi’ksimpstaan (the Aquarium).
Lethbridge College has stated its commitment to making equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) an institutional priority by working to identify and overcome systemic barriers that impede individuals from underrepresented groups.
"Diversity is a fact. The opportunity to come together and learn about Black History allows us to understand each other's stories, to build connection and relationships,” says Michelle ní Dochartaigh-Derbich, EDI strategist and lead researcher at Lethbridge College. “But we must remember that inclusion is an act. And it's through mindful acts, and our commitment to improve equity and address systemic barriers black people navigate, that we go beyond a celebratory month and toward action that strengthens our communities overall."
Canada first officially recognized Black History Month in 1995, and Lethbridge College has held official Black History Month celebrations since 2017.