CBC and Being Black In Canada recognize Black History Month

CBC is celebrating BLACK HISTORY MONTH throughout February with a wide range of programming on all platforms featuring Black creators, storytellers and changemakers, curated and discoverable in one place on CBC's BEING BLACK IN CANADA website.

Highlighting the stories and experiences of Black Canadians year-round, BEING BLACK IN CANADA provides a breadth of content celebrating the culture and achievements of Canada's Black communities while also offering a window into their struggles. In February, the site will continue to be a hub to showcase Black History Month content from across all areas of CBC including news, documentaries, arts and music.

BEING BLACK IN CANADA MEN'S PROJECT

Throughout February, BEING BLACK IN CANADA will also offer a series of feature stories on Black men making a difference in their communities. 

Following in the footsteps of the acclaimed HERstory In Black initiative and in response to the recent, ongoing reckoning on race inspiring many to push for change, CBC News and BEING BLACK IN CANADA are shining a spotlight on Black men who are continuing their journey for social justice and are more determined than ever to effect long-lasting change. 

Beginning February 1, these stories will be featured on Being Black in Canada, the new Being Black in Canada Instagram page and on Canada Tonight with Ginella Massa at 8 pm on CBC News Network. 
 

WATCH THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH COLLECTION ON CBC GEM

A collection of over 50 Canadian and international titles begins streaming this month on CBC GEM  including the exclusive Canadian premieres of acclaimed BBC film Anthony and U.S. sketch comedy Sherman's Showcase, and documentaries Giants of Africa featuring Masai Ujiri and How it Feels to be Free from executive producer Alicia Keys and Hip Hop: The Songs that Shook America.  

• Sherman's Showcase (comedy series) *Exclusive Canadian Premiere*
  This groundbreaking, wickedly funny mockumentary series travels through time via music and clips drawn from the 40-year library of a legendary (fictional) music and variety show. Cameos include John Legend, Tiffany Haddish, Mary J Blige and more.

• Giants of Africa (documentary)
  A behind-the-scenes look at a basketball youth program set up in Africa by the General Manager of the NBA's Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri.

How it Feels To Be Free (documentary film)  Executive Produced by Alicia Keys.
Inspiring story of 5 iconic African American female entertainers - Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier and follows how they challenged an entertainment industry deeply complicit in perpetuating stereotypes and transformed themselves and their audiences in the process.

Hip Hop: The Songs that Shook America (documentary series)
From executive producers Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, Shawn Gee and Alex Gibney, each episode of this new documentary series focuses on a groundbreaking song pivotal to the evolution of American music and culture.

Anthony (film) starts streaming on February 5
In July 2005, Anthony Walker was murdered by two white racists in an unprovoked attack in Liverpool. He was just 18 years old. Anthony tells the story of how this talented young Black man's life may have turned out.

21 Black Futures - a  three-part series launches Friday, February 12 on CBC Gem
An anthology of 21 filmed monodramas commissioned from 21 multigenerational Black playwrights across the country, directed by 21 Black directors and performed by 21 Black actors. Aligned with Black History Month and Obsidian Theatre's 21st anniversary, Artistic Director Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu commissioned 21 BLACK FUTURES to respond to the question, "What is the future of Blackness?" 

Nancy's Pro TIps: begins streaming Friday, February 19 on CBC Gem
Once a month, Nancy Falaise closes the doors to her Montreal salon to lead a workshop for young Black girls eager to learn how to care for their natural hair. Falaise was first featured in CBC Short Doc Nancy's Workshop, and this new four-part series shares even more hair care tips from her workshops.

CBC Music launches new shows - The Block and Frequencies

Also launching in February are two new national radio shows, THE BLOCK and FREQUENCIES, on CBC Music and CBC Listen. These programs will bolster the discovery of Black and global music, respectively, and serve a wider range of musical interests and communities across Canada. 

Hosted by Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe, The Block is a two-hour weekday radio show focused on music of Black origin, ]encompassing a fluid mosaic of styles. The Block is about culture and community, repping the elements of hip hop from its roots to its far reaching influence. Tune in weeknights starting February 1 at 7 pm on CBC Music or CBC Listen.

The music played will reflect the many intersections within Black music from across the diaspora; where Soca meets Pop (Rihanna), R&B meets Reggaeton (J Balvin), the transformative leaders in Hip-Hop today (Haviah Mighty, Chika, Clairmont The Second), the elite artists with the ability to execute in multiple genres (Drake, Beyoncé) along with regular nods to the early influencers of Hip-Hop and Funk.

CHECK OUT FREQUENCIES

FREQUENCIES, hosted by Errol Nazareth airs Tuesday evenings, beginning February 2 at 6 pm on CBC Music and CBC Listen. Building on the format of his popular Toronto radio show BIG CITY, SMALL WORLD, FREQUENCIES will highlight musical storytelling from cultures and communities across Canada that are not always reflected in mainstream media. Listeners will hear music from Canada and around the globe, brought to life with the voices of the artists behind the music.