Hear More Black Voices
CBC News | Posted: June 4, 2020 8:15 PM | Last Updated: June 5, 2020
Books, radio interviews, a virtual museum and documentaries featuring Black voices
As people in the United States, and here at home, take a knee and rally to protest anti-Black racism and police brutality, many are looking for additional ways to educate themselves on the issues at hand. Here is a list of resources - many free to Canadians - that can help.
Podcasts and Interviews
Podcasts, radio and news interviews are another great way to expand your horizons and spend time listening to Black voices. Here are a few suggestions on where to start:
- On Fresh Air, Nana aba Duncan's personal address is touching and powerful, in just under two minutes.
- The Dami Adeniyi Show is a Saskatchewan based podcast that focuses on, promoting events, creativity, and businesses in Canada; with a focus on the African diaspora. Their vision is to spread positivity by creating a platform that inspires and motivates Africans in the diaspora. They are focused on marketing Africa, its people, and its organizations to the rest of the world.
- The Mayes family's story teaches fortitude while providing valuable insight into Black settlement in Saskatchewan.
- On June 1, The Current examined racism in Canada and the U.S. Host Matt Galloway interviewed Kandace Montgomery of Black Visions Collective, Eric Russell of Tree of Life Justice League, "How to be an Antiracist" author Ibram X. Kendi, and other thought leaders.
Books
Although many stores and libraries are closed due to COVID-19, it's still possible to borrow ebooks and audiobooks, or to purchase hard copies online.
If you're interested in reading more from Black Canadian authors, CBC Books shared these six recent works by Black Canadian authors.
If you're a parent, you might be looking for kid-friendly books that feature Black voices. Nova Scotian author Shauntay Grant's 2018 book Africville is beautifully illustrated and tells the story of the vibrant Black community in Halifax that was demolished by city officials in the 1960s. Last year, Grant took CBC Arts' Amanda Parris on a tour of the area.
TEDx events have been held across Atlantic Canada for several years. Watching TEDx talks are an opportunity to learn about topics that are not only interesting, but are important to Black Canadians.
- Rajean Willis, a clinical social worker from Nova Scotia, delivered her talk "Tuning Into Your Inner Resilience" at TEDxMSVUWomen. Her talk highlighted the resiliency of African Nova Scotian women and girls.
- At TEDxStJohns, Memorial University professor Dr. Delores V. Mullings shared a compelling talk on decolonizing classrooms.
- Also at TEDxMSVUWomen, Angela Bowden shared an emotional talk called "Dear Black Women, Let's Talk About Healing" in which she spoke on the importance of acknowledging and healing from strength and resilience trauma.
- In New Brunswick, Nasyir McGill delivered a talk called "Feel Like a Man." He pulled from his knowledge as a personal trainer and wellness enthusiast, as well as his lived experience as a Black man, to share his perspective on emotional literacy and toxic masculinity.
Educational Docs and Films
These documentaries and films highlight different Black experiences in Canada, some of them are free to stream on CBC Gem in Canada.
- In the short doc "Deeply Rooted", filmmaker Cazhhmere sheds light on how she's constantly asked to explain where she's from -- despite being a 7th-generation black Canadian. Cazhhmere returns home to Halifax to delve into her family history that goes back more than two centuries.
- "We Are the Roots: Black Settlers and their Experiences of Discrimination on the Canadian Prairies" is an award winning documentary that tells the stories of African American immigrants who settled in Alberta and Saskatchewan in the early 1900s.
- Played and Stayed tells the story of Black Roughriders in Regina
S.A.C.H.M Virtual Heritage Museum tour
The Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum's primary purpose is to honour the history and contributions made of African Descent residents of Saskatchewan. Secondly, they also support those currently making an impact in Saskatchewan.
Through research, collecting and documenting, the contribution of African and African descent persons in Saskatchewan over the last 100 plus years is now available in their virtual museum
Through research, collecting and documenting, the contribution of African and African descent persons in Saskatchewan over the last 100 plus years is now available in their virtual museum