February is Black History Month,  a time to honour and celebrate the histories of Black, Caribbean and African communities. Black History Week was first recognized in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson who wanted to raise awareness and understanding in the school curriculum of the African experience around the world.  In the 1960s this celebration was expanded to become Black History Month.

This year at Nellie’s our focus is on the history of Black Women.  We asked the women at our shelter what this month means to them and how they chose to honour it. This is what they had to say:

Black History Month is…

• A reminder of freedom and the suffering that the black community has endured throughout the years, such as slavery, stereotyping, discrimination and isolation.  It continues today.
• A time to reflect and remember the leaders that have devoted their lives and made changes not only for themselves, but the for the community as a whole.  We remember Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcom X, Harriet Tubman, Marcus Garvey to name a few.
• A reminder of the ongoing struggle of the black community and how they still suffer in Canada today.   It allows our experiences not to be hidden and give voice to our struggle.
• A good remember to raise awareness, fight for changes not only during February but each and every day.
• An opportunity to focus on black women’s experiences of intergenerational trauma.
• A time to reflect and recognize who our allies were in history.
• A time to be reminded to fight for equity and human rights for our communities.
• A time to mourn, a time to remember, a time to celebrate and time take action.

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Throughout February we commemorate Black History Month at the shelter.  We celebrate by sharing stories from Black, Caribbean and African Women who have fought for change throughout history because we know that many of these powerful stories remain unwritten. Celebrated author and poet Maya Angelou said  “We want to reach a time when there won’t be Black History Month, when black history will be so integrated into American history that we study it along with every other history.”   During our celebrations we invite women to read aloud her inspirational poem “Still I Rise.”  Our hope and commitment at Nellies is that this celebration of Black History will continue beyond February and that anti-racist activism continues until justice is achieved for all.