Montreal Gazette

‘WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE’

Montreal marks Black History Month

- BILL BROWNSTEIN bbrownstei­n@postmedia.com twitter.com/ billbrowns­tein

Myrna Lashley feels that Black History Month will have increased significan­ce this year, and she attributes some of that to racist remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who decried immigrants from “s---hole countries” going to the U.S.

“I’m just amazed that his base doesn’t seem to be perturbed by any of this,” says Lashley, this year’s Montreal Black History Month spokespers­on. “If Americans re-elect him in 2020, I think we’re all in for a very rough ride, because it would give credence to things that he has said.”

Lashley is a professor in the department of psychiatry at McGill University and a director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. What she finds particular­ly frightenin­g is that such talk from the president has emboldened those Americans with twisted, racist views.

“I wasn’t born back then, but there are elements of 1933 (Germany) that can be found here, where people want to follow a charismati­c leader, because they feel horrible things have been done to them, that they’ve lost their sense of identity and that they want their country back. And they think that once Barack Obama was elected that they had finally lost their country.

“It also seems to have given permission for the idiot underbelly that was kept under wraps to emerge. So we get Charlottes­ville and neo-Nazis marching, and people being quite vocal in their hatred for blacks and Jews and gays and women.”

While not impervious to inequities on this side of the border, Lashley remains more hopeful. But what does bug her is the notion that too many people here limit their awareness of black issues and culture to Black History Month.

“It’s almost as though for one month a year that people look around and notice that there are black people and go: ‘Let’s say hello to them.’ And then those issues get swept back the rest of the year,” says Lashley, who was born in Barbados but came to Montreal as a child.

“Black history is nothing more than Canadian history or Quebec history or Montreal history. We have always been here. That was a black man — Mathieu de Costa — who came down the river here with Samuel de Champlain in the early 1600s. Black people have fought in wars here. Black people had their own hockey leagues. But nobody talks about that.

I want people to realize black history is the history of us all and should be incorporat­ed into the school curriculum like all other histories.

“Yes, we had slavery here. I would also like it acknowledg­ed that there was a slave market in Montreal. And Canadians were not always that welcoming to runaway slaves who fled the U.S. But I also want a distinctio­n made between the U.S. and Canada. The worst thing we can do is allow what’s going on in the U.S. to separate us here. More than ever, Canadians need to pull together and act as a group together.”

Lashley, the first black associate dean at John Abbott College, was a member of the committee commission­ed by the Montreal police department to study racial profiling among its members. She has worked on race relations with the RCMP. She was the chair of the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security from 2008 to 2017. And she had previously served in the Canadian Navy, where she worked as an oceanograp­her. She later made a career shift, becoming a psychologi­st.

“I have hope for this country. I’ve seen things change. At the core of it, I really do believe that Canadians, Quebecers and Montrealer­s are inherently decent people. Of course, we’re going to have outliers — that’s a given. And, of course, there’s some racism. But it’s not a systematic type of racism. Building on that, I am very optimistic.”

As spokespers­on for Black History Month, Lashley is high on the guest list at numerous events being presented, particular­ly Gala Dynastie, Saturday at 7 p.m. at Tohu (2345 Jarry St. E.). Hosted by multi-disciplina­ry artist Gardy Fury, the gala will showcase an array of performers, artists, athletes, educators, entreprene­urs and community workers from Quebec’s black communitie­s.

“This gala will showcase so much of the talent in our community — people from every sphere of life,” Lashley says. “It shows how much we are contributi­ng to life here. We are scientists. We are sculptors. We are lawyers. We are chefs. We are everything. Come and see who we are and see that you don’t only have to talk about us one month a year.”

MORE BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS:

Dueling Pianos, Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall (7141 Sherbrooke St. W.) The father-son tandem of Eddie and Quincy Bullen perform a range of jazz, classical, reggae and pop tunes while ticking the ivories on separate pianos.

Tribute to the Kora, Saturday at 8 p.m. at Le Gesu. (1200 Bleury St.) Performed by the Montrealba­sed Senegalese Zal Sissokho and South African Derek Gripper.

Prince His Purple Majesty Exhibition, Feb. 9-March 9, Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme in Place des Arts. An exhibition focusing on the life and career of Prince, as revealed by renowned musicologi­st Duke Eatmon, who will provide visitors with insight on Prince’s musical legacy and his cultural impact on society. There’s also an artistic component directed by Kevin Calixte and Félicité Mvioki. And artists Chopin Joseph, Floriane Koudnoukpo, Niti Marcelle Mueth, Olivier Léogane and Omar Gammaoui will be paying homage to Prince.

One on One with Susan Rogers, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. at Place des Arts. The McGill grad, a sound technician, will share memories and anecdotes of her time spent collaborat­ing with Prince on Purple Rain, Sign O’ The Times and 1999.

The Brooks: Prince Tribute Concert, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at Club Soda.

Le jardin de rêves, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Victoria Hall, 4626 Sherbrooke St. W. Doudou Boicel’s poetry takes on new life with singer Marie-Josée Lord.

Afrique en Cirque, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. at Théâtre Olympia. The prowess of the Kalabanté acrobats will plunge patrons on a magical journey through the projection­s of Jérôme Delapierre.

The 7th Fade to Black Festival, Feb. 22-Feb. 25 at various venues. This year’s theme is Tribute to Haiti and it will feature a mix of movies, music, comedy and discussion­s. Details: fonduaunoi­r.ca

Eat & Laugh 2, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. at Sala Rossa, 4848 St-Laurent Blvd. An evening of mirth featuring Charmaine, Chris Venditto, Dolino El Africano and Daniel Pinet.

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 ?? CHRISTINNE MUSCHI ?? “I have hope for this country; I’ve seen things change,” says Myrna Lashley, this year’s Montreal Black History Month spokespers­on.
CHRISTINNE MUSCHI “I have hope for this country; I’ve seen things change,” says Myrna Lashley, this year’s Montreal Black History Month spokespers­on.
 ?? JULIAN HABER ?? Soprano Marie-Josée Lord will be performing along with poet Doudou Boicel as part of Le jardin de rêves on Feb. 10.
JULIAN HABER Soprano Marie-Josée Lord will be performing along with poet Doudou Boicel as part of Le jardin de rêves on Feb. 10.
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