Black History Month a reminder to continue and honour Black legacies, says Hamilton student

Members of the Black community in Hamilton filled city council chambers on Thursday to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month.

This year's theme focused on reflecting on the legacies of accomplished community members and building toward a better future for Black youth.

Small businesses and community groups had tables and kiosks outside council chambers before everyone gathered into the chambers for some speeches and music.

"This is so much deeper than the celebration of Black history," Grade 12 Catholic school student Naomi Ogunjobi told the crowd. "It is a reminder to myself and my peers we must continue these legacies, honour them … and continue to strive for excellence."

Local politicians were in attendance including Mayor Andrea Horwath, councillors Tammy Hwang, Mark Tadeson and Cameron Kroetsch, as well as members of provincial parliament Sandy Shaw, Monique Taylor and Sarah Jama.

"Black history is our history," Horwath said.

Kojo Damptey, a community advocate, musician and instructor at McMaster University, said the community is living in a special time given the city has a Black public school board trustee, a Black member of provincial parliament and a Black member of parliament.

"When we continue to get this work, you all know the attacks we get … the erasure we get," he said.

"But we still do it. Why? The young people. The future."

Dora Anie honoured among 16 other Black leaders

The event also saw the late Dora Anie honoured among 16 other Black leaders.

Anie established Schools of Dreams, a Hamilton-based charity that helps build schools in Ghana.

She died in 2019 but to date, the charity has completed three schools.

The others honourees are:

• Anita Isaac
• Jack "Jackie" Washington
• Sophia Burthen Pooley
• Cynthia Taylor
• Denise J. Brooks
• Eleanor Rodney
• Dr. Ethilda (Tillie) Johnson
• Fleurette Osborne
• John Christie Holland
• Julia Washington Berry
• Neville Nunes
• Norman "Pinky" Lewis
• Ray Johnson
• Rev. Robert Foster
• Vince Hall
• Wilma Morrison

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.