Black History Month celebrates diverse Island community

Black History Month is an opportunity for Prince Edward Island to celebrate black Islanders from past to present.

Events and educational activities will be held throughout February in libraries, schools, museums and establishments. Among the events is an Island Black History talk by Jim Hornby at Eptek Art & Culture Centre in Summerside on Feb. 4.

This year the provincial government is partnering with the Black Cultural Society to host some of these activities.

“A key direction from our Culture Action Plan is to support diversity activities that focus on education and heritage,” said Education and Culture Minister Jordan Brown. “The Black Cultural Society has demonstrated excellent leadership in educating and engaging Islanders, not only during Black History Month, but throughout the year since forming in 2016.”

The society will collaborate with the Confederation Centre Public Library on activities and host events at Charlottetown locations such as the Startup Zone, Upstreet Craft Brewing, and City Cinema. Details and times of some of these events are still to be confirmed; check the Facebook group or email blackculturesocietype@gmail.com for updates.

“P.E.I. has a rich history of black Islanders and we wish to honour that as well as recognize the new generations of black Islanders that now live in the province,” said Kendi Tarichia, a member of the Black Cultural Society. “P.E.I. has diverse communities, and celebrating Black History Month is one more way to showcase that.”