Each year in February, we honour Black History Month, a time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of black citizens in Canada and around the world.
This month allows us the opportunity to reflect on the social forces that have shaped and influenced our communities. We revisit the struggles and challenges inherent in black history in order to continue our work towards harassment free workplaces and a racism free Canada.
All Canadians today can benefit from lessons learned by some of our history’s most iconic black rights advocates. The guiding principles that created real change throughout the past 50 years are the same ones that will push us forward in the years to come and allow us to fight back against a government that ignores human rights and rejects democracy.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Similarly, Rosa Parks, speaking of her remarkable refusal to give up her seat on the bus to a white person, said, “It was just a day like any other day. The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in.”
The sentiment these activists shared then is the same we need to embrace now. We will continue to challenge injustices. We will continue to make change. We will move forward, together.
Regional Executive Vice-President
Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairies