Black History Month a reminder to continue and honour Black legacies, says Hamilton student - Action News
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Hamilton

Black History Month a reminder to continue and honour Black legacies, says Hamilton student

Members of the Black community in Hamilton filled city council chambers on Thursday to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month.

Dora Anie and 16 other Black leaders were honoured during Thursday event at City Hall

Two people talking.
Vendors and community groups had tables up at city hall for the event. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

Members of the Black community in Hamilton filled city council chambers on Thursday to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month.

This year's theme focused on reflecting on the legacies of accomplished community members and building toward a better future for Black youth.

Small businesses and community groups had tables and kiosks outside council chambers before everyone gathered into the chambers for some speeches and music.

"This is so much deeper than the celebration of Black history," Grade 12 Catholic school student Naomi Ogunjobi told the crowd. "It is a reminder to myself and my peers we must continue these legacies, honour them and continue to strive for excellence."

Two people hug.
Over 100 people attended the Black History Month event on Thursday. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)
A man shakes people's hands.
Hamilton held an event Thursday at City Hall to commemorate the start of Black History Month. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

Local politicians were in attendance including Mayor Andrea Horwath, councillors Tammy Hwang, Mark Tadeson and Cameron Kroetsch, as well as members of provincial parliament Sandy Shaw, Monique Taylor and Sarah Jama.

"Black history is our history," Horwath said.

Kojo Damptey, a community advocate, musician and instructor at McMaster University, said the community is living in a special time given the city has a Black public school board trustee, a Black member of provincial parliament and a Black member of parliament.

A man singing and play drums
Leo Johnson sang and performed for the audience (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

"When we continue to get this work, you all know the attacks we get the erasure we get," he said.

"But we still do it. Why? The young people. The future."

Dora Anie honoured among 16 other Black leaders

The event also saw the late Dora Anie honoured among 16 other Black leaders.

Anie established Schools of Dreams, a Hamilton-based charity that helps build schools in Ghana.

She died in 2019 but todate, the charityhas completed three schools.

A woman standing.
Dora Anie was among 16 Black leaders honoured on Thursday. (Schools of Dreams)

The others honourees are:

  • Anita Isaac
  • Jack "Jackie" Washington
  • Sophia Burthen Pooley
  • Cynthia Taylor
  • Denise J. Brooks
  • Eleanor Rodney
  • Dr. Ethilda (Tillie) Johnson
  • Fleurette Osborne
  • John Christie Holland
  • Julia Washington Berry
  • Neville Nunes
  • Norman "Pinky" Lewis
  • Ray Johnson
  • Rev. Robert Foster
  • Vince Hall
  • Wilma Morrison

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

A banner of upturned fists, with the words 'Being Black in Canada'.
(CBC)