This advocate is calling on Black youth in N.L. to get creative this Black History Month

An advocate and community leader is calling for Black youth across Newfoundland and Labrador to get creative about what it means to live in the province for Black History Month.

Laurabel Mba is asking for Black youth to share with her what it means to be Black, through poetry, a story, essay or other forms of art like a picture, song or video.

"I'm so excited. Honestly, I think it's going to be great to see youth within the Avalon — or out in central and out around the west and even up in Labrador — to see what they have to say about their experiences," Mba told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show on Monday.

This year's celebration is focused on Black youth to highlight the future and the supported that's needed, said Mba.

"To make an impact in the future, we really need to know what Black youth are thinking, feeling and experiencing in this province. So I thought Black History Month would be a great time to hear from them," she said.

She says she's hoping to see themes like joy, strength, resilience in the submissions she gets.

"I want to know what it means to them to exist in their own space, whether they think of themselves in a public light in terms of schools, or what's going on in their hearts and their minds," she said.

"It's really up to them to use their voice in whatever way feels best for them to tell their own story."

Applicants must be between 16 and 30 years old. Anyone under 18 needs parental consent to send in a submission.

Mba said submissions will be hosted on the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador website, and they won't be used for marketing but as a time capsule to show Black youth experiences.

"It would just be a place for people to know in February of 2025 this is what Black youth had to say about what it meant for them to live in our province," she said.

Racism still a problem

Mba says racism is an ongoing problem in the province, pointing to a number of racist incidents that occurred over the summer. She says it would be a disservice to pretend that racism didn't exist, adding it still needs to be addressed.

"I think we also really need to be honest in what we think racism looks like," she said.

Mba also points to ongoing issues in the United States as reasons to continue advocacy work. 

Soon after taking office, U.S. president Donald Trump ordered all federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) employees to be put on leave. Then, after a mid-air collision between a helicopter and an airplane killed more than 65 people in Washington, D.C., Trump blamed DEI.

"What we're seeing happen down south, I think it's very important for us to … be able to acknowledge it and call it what it is and then begin to work together to tackle it," Mba said.

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