Dear King’s community,
The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (BCC) refers to this year’s provincial theme for African Heritage Month as “a call to action,” and it’s one that feels especially urgent this year. The theme is “Strength in Unity: Moving Forward with Purpose, Prosperity, Power, and Progress.”
Beyond formally acknowledging the many contributions that African Nova Scotians have made to our culture and history for more than 400 years, this month is also about the power that comes when African Nova Scotians and people of African descent stand together. It’s also a call to every one of us to stand alongside African Nova Scotians and Black communities, to celebrate them, show support and help advance justice.
February is also Black History Month, and this year’s theme celebrates 30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations—From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries. The theme was announced at an event hosted by the BCC.
We, at King’s are so honoured to partner with the BCC, PREP Academy and the broader African Nova Scotian community as we work together to make King’s a more welcoming place for Black students, faculty and staff. These efforts have included creating more spaces for Black student connection and community, embedding equity-informed approaches and institutional policies and practices, and increasing attention to the lived experiences of Black students, staff and faculty. While meaningful, we recognize this work as ongoing as progress that must be sustained over time.
There are so many opportunities to learn about Black history and culture this month—you’ll find a list of some of these opportunities on our site.
King’s will fly the African Nova Scotian flag and the Pan-African flag on campus from today until Friday, February 27.
On February 4, Dal is holding its Flagship African Heritage Month Event and don’t miss the Dalhousie Art Gallery’s exhibit It’s About Time: Dancing Black in Canada 1900-1970 and Now on display until April 12.
King’s Black Student Association is hosting a movie night to celebrate Black art and voices on February 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Alumni Hall and everyone is welcome.
King’s is a place that cherishes stories and we must ensure those stories include the voices of African Nova Scotians and Black Canadians from the past and present. Please join us in honouring, sharing and learning from these stories.
We invite every member of our community to engage with African Heritage Month thoughtfully; to learn, to listen and to consider how collective action can strengthen our goal of having Black voices and perspectives woven into the fabric of our shared university life—this month and every other.
Sincerely,
William Lahey
President and Vice-Chancellor
Karen Mutyabule
Director of Equity and Community Supports
