Black History Month is just around the corner, with launch events at McMaster planned for Feb. 3 and 4.
New this year is a Black History Month (BHM) Resource Guide, created by the Equity and Inclusion Office based on community feedback.
People requested more tools on how to meaningfully learn and engage during and beyond Black History Month, said Eve Nyambiya, Anti-Black Racism Education and Programs Coordinator at the EIO.
The guide aligns with this year’s theme for BHM at McMaster, Rooted: Our Legacy, Our Strength, Our Future. It emphasizes a collective stewardship of Black History Month, and the recognition that Black history is Canadian history.
“As we continue to face ongoing resistance… people shouldn’t forget the work of the foundation that has been laid by many Black scholars, academics and leaders,” said Nyambiya. “The resource guide [gives] people practical tools to ensure that their work is remembered.”
The guide is intended to bring Black History Month to a wider audience, and “support their own journeys of learning,” said Cheryl Louzado, Director of Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppression.
Here are five ways you can use the Black History Month resource guide:
1. Event planning
The guide offers tips on accessibility, using inclusive language and promotion, and creating psychologically safe spaces for Black and non-Black attendees at Black History Month events.
In addition to help with planning BHM events, it offers information on avoiding extractive practices, Nyambiya said. “So [people] are not tokenizing their Black staff or engaging in extractive practices that are tokenizing and not very meaningful.”
Extractive practices include expecting Black staff, faculty and students to volunteer their time to organize events, or consulting with Black community members without ensuring that their contributions are meaningfully incorporated in decision-making processes.
The tips could also be used for events being planned for other equity-deserving groups, Nyambiya said.
2. Advancing inclusion – Black History Month is for everyone
A big part of the guide focuses on how to participate in Black History Month as a non-Black person.
“It’s always been a misconception that Black History Month is just for Black people to attend and to enjoy, but it’s actually for everyone,” Nyambiya said. “We want to make sure that everyone learns about Black history and our contributions and our stories.”
3. How leaders can engage their staff
The guide also includes tips for people managers to invite their staff to engage with Black History Month.
“It was really important for us to support [leaders] during Black History Month, recognizing that they can create space within their teams to acknowledge, learn and celebrate Black History Month,” Louzado said.
If leaders encourage staff to go to events, they’re likely going to go, Nyambiya said.
They can also incorporate Black History Month into their regular work — like starting meetings by sharing an event in Black history or events celebrating BHM in the community.
“There are tips on how people managers can do that and support Black History Month in that way.”
4. Year-round impact
Stephanie Henry, a fourth-year Kinesiology student and Black History Month Coordinator with the EIO, provided a student perspective in the creation of the guide, including sections on ongoing opportunities for learning throughout the year.
“An amazing model for this that currently exists at McMaster is the Black Student Success Centre,” Henry said. The EIO is also looking at ways to expand this to staff and faculty, and dedicating supports to groups and to people to ensure that growth isn’t performative.
The guide offers ideas on how to engage in year-round learning and engagement in a respectful way, while continuing to centre Black voices, recognize the impact of exploitation of Black people in Canada, and being respectful of the space that you take up, Henry said.
“Black History Month is not just for February,” Louzado said. “We have a month that we acknowledge it in, but it is so important that we are aware of it throughout the year, and we celebrate and acknowledge and learn throughout the year.”
5. Further resources
The guide lists additional resources to learn about Black History Month, including books and podcasts, McMaster Library resources and links to community organizations.
“A lot of people are asking for media support, like… ‘Who should we follow on social media? Who should we listen to?’” Nyambiya said. “People are really asking for those kinds of resources because learning has evolved over time.”
The resource guide is one that people can refer back to, and share with others, whenever they need support on how to engage with Black History Month. The Black History Month resource guide can be found online at: https://equity.mcmaster.ca/celebrating-bhm/