Black History Month — Resources
February 1, 2022
For Black History Month, we have curated a list of resources and learning for students of all ages, and our community. These resources are categorized below by appropriate grade level. Read the description and quotations provided from various source organizations, click the links, and engage with Canadian Black History.
Elementary
Hara, Jill, Joe
“This animated short tells the story of Seraphim “Joe” Fortes, one of Vancouver’s most beloved citizens. Born in the West Indies, Joe Fortes swam in English Bay for more than 30 years. A self-appointed lifeguard at first, he became so famous that the city of Vancouver finally rewarded him with a salary for doing what he loved best. He taught thousands of people to swim and saved over a hundred lives. Yet there were some who did not respect him because of his skin colour. Through his determination, kindness and love for children, Joe helped shift attitudes.” (9 minutes)
Pietrobruno, Ileana, Harry Jerome: The Fastest Man On Earth
“This (NFB) short film is a condensed version of our feature documentary Mighty Jerome, made especially for elementary and middle-school classes. Canadian athlete Harry Jerome overcame racism to reach the height of track-and-field success. When an injury ended his career, Jerome continued training and went on to achieve one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.” (10 minutes)
Sawadogo, Cilia, Christopher Changes His Name
“This animated short for children tells the story of Christopher, a little boy who didn’t want to be called Christopher anymore. Such a common name! When Aunty Gail from Trinidad tells him a story about a Tiger, Christopher changes his name to Tiger. But then he finds a better name. When he has trouble cashing a birthday cheque, he realizes maybe he should stick with his original name… or maybe not?” (7 min)
Sony Pictures, Hair Love
This Oscar Winning short film, based on the picture book of the same name is the story of a Black father-daughter duo who work together to do the daughter’s hair in the mother’s absence. Great for discussions on race and body-positivity.
Middle School
CBC, 23 Historical Black Canadians You Should Know
An interactive website. Students can click on images of individuals and gather introductory information on the “stories, experiences and accomplishments” of Black Canadians.
McTair, Roger, Journey to Justice
“This documentary pays tribute to a group of Canadians who took racism to court. They are Canada’s unsung heroes in the fight for Black civil rights. Focusing on the 1930s to the 1950s, this film documents the struggle of 6 people who refused to accept inequality. Featured here, among others, are Viola Desmond, a woman who insisted on keeping her seat at the Roseland movie theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia in 1946 rather than moving to the section normally reserved for the city’s Black population, and Fred Christie, who took his case to the Supreme Court after being denied service at a Montreal tavern in 1936. These brave pioneers helped secure justice for all Canadians. Their stories deserve to be told.” Recommended age 12+ (47 min)
Nova Scotia Archives, Africville Story Map
A step-by-step story map that explains the history of Africville. Each tab in the story includes an image and an explanation on the chronological history of the North End of Halifax.
Rankaduwa, Sandamini, Ice Breakers
This NFB short film spans 15 minutes, “Josh Crooks is a promising teen hockey star in a sport where Black players like him are chronically underrepresented. Ice Breakers reveals the buried history of a pioneering Black hockey league in Atlantic Canada, as Crooks discovers that his unshakable passion is tied to a rich and remarkable heritage.”
Secondary School
Canadian Encyclopedia, Africville
Overview of the historic Black Neighborhood outside Halifax, Nova Scotia. The article includes history, legacy, urban renewal, connections to the Halifax Explosion, and much more. Written by Celine Copper and Clayton Ma — updated in 2021.
Canadian Encyclopedia, Hogan’s Alley
Overview of the historic Black neighborhood in Vancouver BC. Article includes history, culture, urban renewal and legacy of the area. Written by Wayde Compton — updated in 2019.
Jacob, Selwyn The Road Taken
“This 1996 documentary takes a nostalgic ride through history to present the experiences of Black sleeping-car porters who worked on Canada’s railways from the early 1900s through the 1960s. There was a strong sense of pride among these men and they were well-respected by their community. Yet, harsh working conditions prevented them from being promoted to other railway jobs until finally, in 1955, porter Lee Williams took his fight to the union.
Claiming discrimination under the Canada Fair Employment Act, the Blacks won their right to work in other areas. Interviews, archival footage and the music of noted jazz musician Joe Sealy (whose father was a porter) combine to portray a fascinating history that might otherwise have been forgotten.” (52 min)
Jumel, Okeyo The Black Loyalist, Nova Scotia
This youtube video was created to explain the origin, voyage and experiences of Black Loyalists and their descendants. It includes many interviews of Black Canadians connecting their ancestry to the present. (10 min)
See the list of all resources here.