Black History Month

HISTORY IS A CLOCK THAT PEOPLE USE TO TELL THEIR HISTORICAL CULTURE AND POLITICAL TIME OF THE DAY. IT'S A COMPASS THAT PEOPLE USE TO FIND THEMSELVES ON THE MAP OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. THE HISTORY TELLS THEM WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN, WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE. BUT MOST IMPORTANT HISTORY TELLS A PEOPLE WHERE THEY STILL MUST GO AND WHAT THEY STILL MUST BE   --  Dr John Henrik Clarke 

The month of February is a nationally recognized opportunity to acknowledge the important contributions of Black Canadians to the settlement, growth and development of Canada. It is also an opportunity for Canadians to learn about the experiences of Black Canadians in our society, and the vital role this community has played throughout our shared history.

The 2008 theme is linked to the 175th anniversary of the British Imperial Act of 1833, an act for the abolition of slavery throughout the British colonies. It is closely related to last year's theme, which was the bicentenary of the passing of legislation known as the Slave Trade Act, which abolished the trafficking of slaves. 

The process of colonial empire building meant that literally tens of millions of Africans were taken from their homes, enslaved, sold, bartered and brought to America, Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean. This Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade is sometimes called the “Maafa” by African scholars, meaning holocaust or great disaster in Kiswahili.

Despite the scale and duration of this historic struggle, those of African ancestry continue to demonstrate tremendous strength, perseverance and talent to bring about change for a better society.

The Canadian labour movement benefits from the determined and on-going efforts of activists from Africa's Diaspora's to make the labour movement more representative, stronger and engaged in struggles that improve our workplaces and Canadian communities.

The labour movement was and continues to be instrumental in the fight for human rights and equality for workers and all Canadians. Labour’s struggle for human rights, inclusion and equity would not have been as effective without the tenacious and persistent advocacy and lobbying of Black workers. Tomorrow's labour movement will be even stronger because of the struggles of the past that have been endured and overcome.

The very reason for a Union’s existence is to defend and promote the rights of all people and to end exploitation. That’s the definition of solidarity.