February 1 marked the beginning of Black History Month. Organizations such as Black Lives Matter New Brunswick and Prude INC. along with UNB are hosting several virtual presentations and events to honour the legacy of Black Canadians.
Events at UNB
Throughout February, the UNB Art Centre in Fredericton and the UNB’s Bi-Campus Standing Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights will be displaying banners and poster boards in Fredericton. This project recognizes the achievements and experiences of Black New Brunswicker’s and their significant contribution to the province.
On February 3, a professor in the History of Medicine and Director of the Humanities in Medicine program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dr. Deidre Cooper Owens, will lead an online lecture titled “Why Black History Matters in American Medicine.” The event will be at 7 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
The UNB Art Centre will present “Rediscovering the roots of Black New Brunswicker’s” from March to April. People can access the instalments and past exhibitions through their website.
Local Events
The local non-profit organization Prude INC. will be hosting online discussions throughout the month with novelists, activists, entrepreneurs, and researchers. It is necessary to register to get access to the talks.
The following are some of the discussions:
“How to start a Business in the Community” by Bridget Ibukun on February 2 at 7 p.m.
“Being Fluid” by Clyde Wray on February 3 at 7 p.m.
“Black Gay Culture – An Intimate Portrait” by Normand Hector on February 8 at 7 p.m.
“You Cannot Kill Ideas: Pan-Africanists of the Past and the Present Pan-Africanist” by Lily Lynch on February 9 at 7 p.m.
“Building Capacity for Community Impact” by Seun Richards on February 10 at 7 p.m.
“How to Discover the Lost Stories of New Brunswick’s Early Black Settlers” by Stephen Davidson on February 15 at 7 p.m.
“Representation and Dismantling Racial Discrimination” by Saa Andrew on February 16 at 7 p.m.
“Black History Projects – Works in Progress” by Peter Little on February 22 at 7 p.m.
“Liberty, Freedom, Glory and New Brunswick’s ties to Upper Canada” by Graham Nickerson on February 23 at 2 p.m.
“De-mystifying Racism” by Mary Louise McCarthy-Brandt on February 24 at 2 p.m.
More about the speakers here.