a history of colour

[the_siobhan]

Feburary is Black History Month in Canada. I have the vague idea that it might also be Black History Month in the US, but only because of something I saw on The Daily Show.

My workplace prides itself on being very pro-diversity. So now when we walk onto my floor from the elevators we pass right by a display that talks about black Canadians of note. I stopped to read it the other day, and realized that all the plaques are titled "Contributions of African-Canadians".

And if my lily-white Celtic self spotted this, you can bet it did not escape the notice of all the Carribbean-Canadians who work there, and who probably outnumber the employees of African birth or descent by a ratio of about 80 to one.

Now I know why every time somebody mentions the subject of Black History Month the Jamaican guy who sits next to me yells, "You mean African-Canadian History Month" and then falls over laughing.

Comments

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's a bad idea to have a campaign that increases the awareness of black Canadians who did cool things. It emphasises the fact that not everybody of note in this country came here from England or France. And many of the people on the list may in fact be African-Canadian.

It just struck me as really bizarre to call it Black History Month and then completely ignore the existance of the biggest segment of the black population.

It really turns into something that just looks like some empty-headed well-meaning gesture instead of a genuine effort to educate.