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 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.