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

[sonjaaa.livejournal.com]

It's stolen from USA and is a good concept but doesn't adapt as well to Canadian culture. It should be Black Canadian or Afro-Canadian but not African-Canadian.

Why don't we have a Chinese-Canadian month or something.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I think we should.

And an indigenous Canadian month.

[sonjaaa.livejournal.com]

Ya ya! you mean like First Nations?

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Yup.

Your curious and wanting to be educated neighbor to the South.

[eve-l-incarnata.livejournal.com]

Really, there isn't a First Nations History month in Canada? I'm surprised. I think I'll go post all the various specific-US history months in my journal.

[eve-l-incarnata.livejournal.com]

Was it really stolen from the US? How long ago? Are there other good concepts that are borrowed from the US and become official policy?

There's no "Asian-American History" month in Canada? There is in the US.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Turns out we do - in May (http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/multi/asian-asiatique/index_e.cfm"). Shows what I know. I don't see a First Nations month though.

I actually did a quick lookup on the history of Black History Mnth, and it was in fact borrowed from the US. Which is why it falls in February, which has some historical significance in the States but not so much here.

Lest anyone think I'm a jingoist.

[eve-l-incarnata.livejournal.com]

I think there are some good concepts that should be borrowed from Canada, like health-care for all, for one.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Asian History Month.

http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/multi/asian-asiatique/index_e.cfm

How embarrassing that I didn't know that. Guess it doesn't get much airtime.