On Feb. 10, a lecture-hall full of people gathered at the CIBC lobby for a catered dinner and Black History Month event. Opened by MC Steven Simpson, a YorkU alum and chair of the community advisory committee, the event navigated the theme of centering Black stories and voices through dance, spoken word performances, music, and more.
Jean Augustine, the first Black woman to be elected to Canada’s House of Commons in 1993, spoke about the significance of gathering for the 30th anniversary of Black History Month in Canada. Her coming into office was a major milestone for Canadian politics, and young Black people began to look up to her as a role model and a trailblazer who was carving out a new path for those to follow.
“We gather here in February — a month set aside to honour the stories, the struggles, the contributions of Black Canadians,” she began. Her speech encapsulated the challenge of performative and “routine remembrance” simply because of the time of the year, and brought up crucial questions of identity, history, reformation, and the future. “The Black Canadian experience has always been characterized by the ability to see clearly what needs to change, and to…have the courage to act on that vision.”
She recognized the battles Black Canadian people and communities have fought to come this far, while also shining a light on that which remains unchanged. “This 30th anniversary is a reminder of the resilience, the contribution, and — my friends — the unfinished work,” she exclaimed. “When we ask of Canadian society, ‘Are we there yet?’ … the answer is no. The answer is: it’s a work in progress. The answer is: our national story isn’t complete.” As Canadians, she notes, the struggle of one is the struggle of all and the story of one is the story of all.
Four Toronto District School Board students and recent graduates performed a spoken word piece exploring migration, beauty standards, and Blackness as a trend, among other themes. One of the students, Ano Dhliwayo, provided an insight into the world of a young Black girl navigating the experience of early romance — of crushes and relationships — revealing how long-standing beauty hierarchies shape who gets admired and who doesn’t.
Dhliwayo explained that even though her piece was written during high school, from which she graduated a year ago, she recognizes the universality of her message and her experience. “It felt really nice,” she says, to share her piece at a York University event, because “even though my story was made as a high schooler, it really made me realize that my perspective and the words I had to say can relate to somebody within a different demographic.”
Primarily a visual artist, Dhliwayo dabbles occasionally in spoken art after being inspired by a Black politics course taken in her senior year. “It made me realize that using your voice is just as powerful as showing…a painting or a drawing. Performing on stage and performing out loud… has a long-lasting effect on people. As an individual, using your voice to share those messages and share your thoughts can really touch somebody else and change someone else’s perspective on things.”
If you missed it this year, stay tuned for the next annual Word, Sound, Power event happening in February. Learn more about York University events at https://events.yorku.ca/.
