Black History Month, 2024

Brian Sankarsingh talks about February - Black History Month

In February, we celebrate Black History Month, but have you ever wondered why? Why do Black people have a month dedicated to them and their struggle? Why do we celebrate Black History Month here in Canada?

Although you may have never been taught this in school, there were enslaved Black people in Canada. From the early 1600s, up until 1834, Black and Indigenous peoples were bought, sold, traded, and inherited in Canada. 

All Canadians must know and understand this, because it represents the birth of what we know today as systemic racism.

When we think of enslavement, we think about our neighbours to the south. We think about enslaved Black people escaping and travelling north via the intricate system called the Underground Railroad, using the North Star of the Big Dipper as their guide. However, many of the enslaved people in Canada escaped to the South. Let that sink in.

Although the enslavement of peoples in Canada was abolished in 1834, racism still existed. You may know about Nova Scotia's Viola Desmond and her stand against racial segregation in 1946. Before Desmond, there was Hugh Burnett, an army serviceman. In 1943, while in uniform, he attempted to dine at a restaurant in Dresden, Ontario. The owner refused to serve him. Burnett sent a letter to then-federal Justice Minister Louis St. Laurent, writing “Even in uniform, a Black man could not be served in any Dresden restaurant.” The response he received stated unequivocally that there was no law against racial discrimination in Canada.

You may think that these examples are from so long ago, surely things have changed. You would be partially correct. In 2017, a young Black rapper walked into a GTA hospital complaining of shortness of breath and severe headaches. A triage nurse accused him of faking his symptoms to get drugs. During the next 60 days, he visited five other hospitals seeking help, each time the message was the same. It was only when his mother posted what was happening to him on social media that doctors diagnosed the severity and near fatality of his medical issue. 

Black people have been historically under-represented and face many more systemic barriers. That is why we recognize Black History Month. It is an opportunity for all of us to learn this history and better understand the struggle Black people in Canada face, even now.

---

Bio: BRIAN SANKARSINGH is a Trinidadian-born Canadian immigrant who has published several books of poetry on a wide range of social and historical themes including racism, colonialism, and enslavement. Sankarsingh artfully blends prose and poetry into his storytelling creating an eclectic mix with both genres. This unique approach is sure to provide something for everyone.