CBC showcases Black voices, stories and experiences in honour of Black History Month

CBC is celebrating BLACK HISTORY MONTH throughout February with a wide range of programming across its platforms featuring Black creators, storytellers and changemakers.

Highlights of CBC's Black History Month programming include the following:

CBC British Columbia

REVELATIONS 
Every Saturday in February
Starting February 4, CBC Vancouver is proud to feature Revelations, a limited series for Black History Month. Every Saturday in February, tune in at 5 p.m. to CBC Radio One or CBC Listen in British Columbia and listen to prominent Black voices from Vancouver hosting music specials that cover a variety of genres, from gospel to hip-hop to Afrofuturism.

Revelations will be hosted by Dawn Pemberton (Feb 4), Marcus Mosely (Feb 11), Krystle Dos Santos (Feb 18) and Khari Wendell McClelland (Feb 25).

• Revelations 1 hosted by Dawn Pemberton: Singer and songwriter Dawn Pemberton takes us on a journey through the idea of Soul. Listen here.
• Revelations 2 hosted by Marcus Mosely: Marcus Mosely shares some of his musical sheroes and heroes who help lay the foundation of Black Music in North America. Listen here.
• Revelations 3 hosted by Krystle Dos Santos: Singer and actor Krystle Dos Santos curates an hour of music that for her represents a sense of musical and cultural legacy. Listen here.
• Revelations 4 hosted by Khari Wendell McClelland: Singer, composer and music explorer Khari Wendell McClelland navigates some of the latest sounds in Black music. Listen here.

Listen to Black History Month segments on CBC Radio B.C. programs on CBC Listen:

• The Early Edition: Matt Allen speaks about how Black American soldiers played a significant role in the construction of the highway between Dawson Creek and the Alaska border. Listen here.
• The Early Edition: Adel Gamar, Handel Kashope Wright and Denise Nana-yaa Obuobi speak about their own lived experiences heading into the Black History Month. Listen here.
• Daybreak South: Joseph Otoo talks to salon owner Andre Henry on how his beauty shop has helped foster a Black community in the Central Okanagan. Listen here.
• On The Coast: Dawn Pemberton discusses CBC Radio One's four-part music series Revelations, and her hour, Soul. Listen here.
• The Early Edition: Yasin Kiraga Misago speaks with Stephen Quinn about the history of the Black diaspora in Surrey. Listen here.
• The Early Edition: Hear from June Frederick, a pop-up shop organizer and her event on Black History Month, and why it's so important to her to bring like minded BIPOC people together. Listen here.
• On The Coast: Black Lives Matter Vancouver member Udokam Iroegbu speaks about the conviction of a police officer in Vancouver. Listen here.
• The Early Edition: A retired social worker worked with Richmond Cultural Centre to showcase Black artists' work. Listen here.
• The Early Edition: A community organizer speaks with host Stephen Quinn ahead of a Vancouver Public Library event, "Building Black British Columbia with Social Media." Listen here.
• The Early Edition: Hear the first installment of "Celebrating Black Books," produced by the CBC's Kiran Singh. Listen here.
• The Early Edition: In another installment of "Celebrating Black Books," hear about the importance of representation in literature with educators Louis Maraj, Michael Musherure and Shayla Bird. Listen here.
• The Early Edition: In this installment of "Celebrating Black Books," hear about the importance of Black LGBTQ+ characters in literature. Listen here.
• On The Coast: Trina Plomondon speaks about opening the door for Black and other people of colour into the vineyard. Listen here.
• The Early Edition: Parenting a Black child is full of unique joys, but also specific challenges. CBC's Amy Bell dives into the experience of parenting Black kids. Listen here.

Read Black History Month stories on cbc.ca/bc:

• Reclaiming identity in the face of systemic erasure: Black Indigenous women shed light on intertwining histories. Read here
• 'I felt like a unicorn': British Columbians reflect on being Black in the Lower Mainland. Read here.
• Boxes of books by Black authors bring more representation to Victoria-area schools. Read here.
• Walking tour explores the history of Vancouver's Black community. Read here.
• UBC Black Student Union calls for dedicated space as Black students face feelings of isolation. Read here.
• A digital Hogan's Alley: Connecting Black culture in Vancouver. Watch here.
• How Black American soldiers built one of B.C.'s most important highways. Read here.
• Art exhibit in Richmond, B.C., celebrates Black expression, connection. Read here.
• How a contest is helping to remove barriers for Black entrepreneurs. Read here.
• How this Black residential school survivor from the N.W.T. finds peace through art. Read here.
• Black businesses need customers year-round, not just in February. Read here.
• Black people in Canada's wine industry are pushing for more representation. Read here.
• High school club in B.C.'s Fraser Valley provides connection and support for Black students. Read here.
• 7 Black B.C.-based authors to read this Black History Month — and beyond. Read here.
• New course teaches Black history to high school students in Surrey, B.C.. Read here.

CBC News

CBC website BEING BLACK IN CANADA highlights the stories and experiences of Black Canadians year-round, providing a wide range of content celebrating the culture and achievements of Canada's Black communities while also offering a window into their struggles.

BEING BLACK IN CANADA - BLACK CHANGEMAKERS 2023 
Launching February 1
Black Changemakers is a Quebec and Atlantic Canada editorial series that recognizes individuals who are creating positive change in their community through actions big and small. From creators and community organizers to students and entrepreneurs, the series highlights current-day changemakers, helping shape our future and inspiring others. Meet the Black Changemakers:  cbc.ca/beingblackincanada

BEING BLACK IN CANADA: FRIENDS & ALLIES 
Available throughout the month of February at cbc.ca/beingblackincanada
Being Black in Canada presents a special four-part series about Black Canadians and their trusted allies, offering inspirational intersectional stories which showcase allyship in action. 

An interview will air every Wednesday in February on CBC News Network's CANADA TONIGHT and all four interviews as a half-hour special on CBC News Network and CBC Gem on Saturday, February 25 at 4:30 p.m. ET, 9:30 p.m. ET and 11:30 p.m. ET.

CBC TV and CBC Gem

THE NATURE OF THINGS: SECRET AGENTS OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Friday, February 3 at 9 pm (9:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem
SECRET AGENTS OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD is a revealing, scientific exploration of how a Niagara Falls hotel, The Cataract House, became the focal point for a 19th century North American Black Resistance movement. Using strategic scientifically focused investigations, we follow host Anthony Morgan and a team of archaeologists from the University of Buffalo on an emotional journey as they recover parts of the hotel's foundation. The archaeological dig unearths stories about how the hotel's head waiter, John Morrison, and his seemingly innocuous wait staff covertly orchestrated Freedom Seekers' escapes to freedom.

DEAR JACKIE (feature documentary directed by Henri Pardo)
Sunday, February 5 at 8 pm (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem 
After a stint with the minor-league Montreal Royals, Jackie Robinson was the first Black man to play in Major League Baseball and a key contributor to the civil rights movement in the United States. When Robinson broke the colour barrier in professional baseball in 1946, the impossible seemed possible in a segregated North America. All Montrealers Black and white cheered him on and treated him like a hero. But did the white majority use the historic moment to perpetuate the myth of a post-racial society?

CBC GEM BLACK HISTORY MONTH COLLECTIONS

Titles launching throughout the month of February 

CBC Gem offers four Black History Month collections - BLACK STORIES, CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY, BLACK ART & MUSIC, and MUST WATCH BLACK LEADS - featuring over 60 series, films and documentaries that explore Black history and culture, and celebrate Black success. 

Highlights include Season 2 of Emmy-winning fictional musical variety series SHERMAN'S SHOWCASE created by Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle and executive produced by John Legend; multiple Oscar-winning film MOONLIGHT directed by Barry Jenkins; and poignant drama THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO directed by Joe Talbot. Canadian premieres include two-part documentary RIGHT TO OFFEND: THE BLACK COMEDY REVOLUTION (directed by Mario Diaz and Jessica Sherif), about the progression of Black comedy and the comedians who have used pointed humour to expose, challenge and ridicule society's injustices; and documentary BLIND AMBITION (directed by Rob Coe and Warwick Ross), the inspiring story of four Zimbabwean refugees who conquered the odds to become South Africa's top sommeliers.

The CBC Gem collection, CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH (KIDS), showcases kids series and specials featuring Black talent in front of and behind the camera, and celebrates diversity and inclusiveness. 

CBC Podcasts

THE AFRICAS VS. AMERICA
Weekly starting Monday, February 6 - 7 episodes on CBC Listen and everywhere podcasts are available 
In the spring of 1985, the City of Philadelphia became the first in U.S. history to drop a bomb on a family of American citizens. The attack killed 11 people, including five children, and the ensuing fire set an entire neighbourhood to ruins. The targets that day? A family of Black radicals known collectively as MOVE, who found themselves ensnared in a city — and nation's — domestic war on Black Liberation. Over seven episodes, host Matthew Amha investigates the events that culminated in the MOVE bombing, and the long afterlife of a forgotten American tragedy. Through intimate conversations, THE AFRICAS VS. AMERICA offers an unseen look into MOVE's origins and dynamics while looking ahead to the group's uncertain future.

CBC Arts 

On February 1, CBC Arts will unveil a new Black History Month-themed logo from artist Jimmy Baptiste as part of their monthly logo project, with an accompanying Q&A. Features in February will include an interview with artist Esmaa Mohamoud regarding her current Art Gallery of Alberta show, and a new episode of Here and Queer with the filmmakers behind the Jackie Shane heritage minute, Pat Mills and Ayo Tsalithaba.

CBC Books

In February, CBC Books will unveil its annual Black Canadian Writers to Watch list, including emerging and exciting Black Canadian writers, authors and poets poised to make waves in the national and international literary scenes. Notable names on past lists include award winners such as Ian Williams, Canisia Lubrin, David Chariandy, francesca ekwuyasi and more. Throughout the month, CBC Books is featuring reading lists of recent and notable books by Black writers, for genres including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, comics, children's books and more. CBC Books will also feature Q&A interviews with established and emerging Black Canadian authors all month long.

CBC Kids

CBC Kids celebrates Black History Month with grooves and moves: new videos for CBC TV and social media feature Studio K hosts Janaye and Tony as they honour phenomenal Black Canadians, and learn amazing Afro Dance moves. CBCKids.ca (ages 6-10) and CBC Kids News (ages 9+) offer age-appropriate context on the history and significance of Black History Month. 

CBC Sports

New original CBC Sports video features in February will focus on Black runner Phil Edwards, a five-time Olympic medallist for Canada, who went on to win the first-ever Northern Star Award for Canada's top athlete in 1936; and the racial disparity between the Canadian men's national soccer teams at the FIFA World Cup in 1986, the team's first appearance, and their second in 2022. The video features will be available at cbcsports.ca and on the CBC Sports app. 

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.