Black History Month is a very significant time for my generation and for me personally. It is important to highlight and truly recognize Black excellence.

Often when people bring up Black History, they only relate it back to slavery or a few outstanding Black American figures in history. But as a Canadian Black female of Jamaican, Trinidadian and Saint Lucian heritage, I know that Black history is so much more.

The story of resilience and perseverance is for everyone to learn about because if we only talk about slavery, then we are not truly encapsulating Black excellence. I think the mere fact that Black people survived and still thrive in a country that traditionally has systems used to disadvantage us is amazing. It motivates youth like me every time I learn about the outstanding achievements of my community.

We are a diverse people with many excellent achievements, records, inventions, and more. It is important to me that Canadian society understands and appreciates the fact that Black people are not a monolith, ethnically, religiously, financially, academically, creatively or culturally.

Black people have been contributing to the development of Canada since before Confederation. Yes, before Canada was Canada we have been shaping this great nation.

When Black History is taught in schools, we must focus on not only the past, but the current Black Canadian achievers in all facets of Canadian life. Black people have made significant contributions in all arenas, not only sports and entertainment. The achievements are vast and varied including but not limited to politics, engineering, science, math, business, philanthropy, construction, education, advocacy, law, technology, research, and the list goes on.

Black History Month should be an educational and intentional commemoration highlighting Black culture through festivals, music and storytelling. It is important not only for Black people, but for everyone in society, as it is through education that the negative stereotypes and myths about Black people will be dispelled. Black excellence is not a concept of the past; it exists here in Canada right now. There are so many significant role models who are living today, on whose shoulders many of us young Black people stand.

Growing up I’ve been embraced by Black figures such as at-home heroes like my parents to Black Canadians such as Jean Augustine (the first Black woman to serve as a Federal Minister), Robert Small (artist extraordinaire and creator of the Official Black History Month Posters), Greg Fergus (the first Black Speaker of the House of Commons), Patrice Barnes (one of the first Black people to be a Conservative MPP in Ontario), Michael Tulloch (the first Black Chief Justice of Ontario and first of any province), Jill Andrews (Black MPP), Dr. Rhonda McEwen (First Black female President and Vice-chancellor of Victoria University), Dr. Lanval Daly (The Black OB/GYN who delivered me and my three siblings) and Patricia Bebia-Mawa (Executive Vice-President of Silvertrust Media and AfroGlobal Television). I could go on but there is not enough space in this article to do so.

We must magnify the stories and accomplishments of Black Canadians from musicians like Oscar Peterson or Julie Black, to advocates like Dudley Laws to Kola Iluyomade, politicians like Beverly Salmon to Kathy McDonald, and to the Black brilliance yet to be discovered. So let us celebrate! Happy Black History Month!