'Black history did not start with slavery,' Kitchener students tell classmates
Black History Month assembly at Kitchener high school focused on 'rich African history'
Three students at Eastwood Collegiate Institute in Kitchener wanted to empower their classmates through the school's annual Black History Month Assembly by sharing a fuller view of their past.
- Lantern Ale launched in Guelph to celebrate Black History Month
- Donald Trump underscores need for Black History Month, advocates say
- Black History Month is good time to talk about racism, says Toronto writer
"I want them to know that black history did not start with slavery," Grade 12 student Sabrina Mohamed said. "We had a really, really rich African history. I want my friends to recognize history, that black people did contribute to the society."
"I don't think people know their history, in general. I personally did not know it until I was 15," said Yorsaliem Haile, who is also in Grade 12.
- HERstory in Black: Meet 150 black women who have made a place in Canadian history
- 'Tales from the 2.9' introduces you to a black Canadian every day of Black History Month
"To my shock, I realized there's way more than Muhammad Ali and slavery and activists. I realized there have been kings and queens, and empires and dynasties."
Listen to interviews from Friday's assembly:
With files from TY Bero