Celebrating the Excellence of the African Diaspora: Today and Every Day, Not Just Black History Month

Today marks the first day of Black History Month, a month where we celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black communities throughout history and present day. People of African and Caribbean descent have made incredible contributions to all realms of Canadian society, but these stories often go untold.

This month is also an opportunity to acknowledge the social and economic barriers caused by anti-Black racism and the discrimination that racialized communities continue to face.

In recent years, the month has become riddled with performative allyship as organizations diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offerings celebrate Black history and explore how to interrupt anti-Black bias before moving on to other DEI offerings for the rest of the year. One-off programming is never sufficient for making real changes.

Have you ever witnessed this flaw in your organization? As a racialized DEI professional, I have witnessed countless accounts of performative allyship in work place settings. From declarations of “solidarity” in support of Black Lives Matter, to the proliferation of racial bias trainings offered with no corresponding changes to address inequitable recruitment processes, mentorship programs, or meagre attempts to increase the representation of underrepresented groups at senior leadership tables.

In order to dismantle systemic barriers and create more equitable places to work, DEI offerings that focus on interrupting anti-Black bias should be prioritized year-round, not just Black History Month.

This February, as we honour the history of the African diaspora and celebrate Black excellence, I encourage you to continue moving the dial throughout the year and think about how your actions can build a more just society.

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