Black History Month: February 1 – 28, 2022
February is Black History Month, it is a time to celebrate and highlight Black history and culture, and to honour the ancestors and upcoming leaders of Black communities, their accomplishments, and their continued fight for liberation. It is also a time for all Canadians to reflect and educate ourselves on the history of Black enslavement, discrimination, bigotry and criminalization of people of African descent, and to re-energize our anti-racism work.
Although Canadian society has seen progress over the decades, the realities of differential treatment towards African Canadians continue. Over the past year, the crises of over-policing and the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Black and Indigenous communities have thrown a spotlight on how much remains to be done.
Delegates at the 2021 National Convention adopted CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy. The six-year strategy identifies concrete actions to challenge systemic racism in our workplaces, the union, and our communities. It acknowledges the need to work towards meaningful and attainable change for Indigenous, Black, and racialized members, including those with intersecting identities.
This is the second year the CUPE BC Racialized Workers Committee has produced a poster highlighting Black trailblazers in Canada – past and present. The 2022 poster (English version and French version) honours those who have dedicated their lives to the medical profession. Find more information as well as activities and learning resources on the CUPE National web site.
