February is Black History Month and there are a number of interesting events taking place in the community to commemorate the annual event.
The St. Margaret Church, New Toronto, is hosting a forum on February 9 to mark the occasion.
The forum is called ‘From Harriet Tubman to Black Panther; Afro-Futurism and Prophetic Imagination’ and takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the 156 Sixth Street church.
The speakers include Carol B. Duncan, of the Dept. of Religion and Culture, of Wilfred Laurier University.
Gideon Strauss, the Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Worldview Studies, at the Institute for Christian Studies, will also be addressing residents.
The Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment, 101 Portland St., is also staging a forum to mark the event.
Emma Asiedu-Akrofi, the Centre’s Executive Director, says the annual Black History Month Celebration and Fundraiser will take place on February 22 at the Assembly Hall, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.
“It promises to be great event as in previous years,” Asiedu-Akrofi says. “We’re in the process of finalizing details of the event.”
A Black History Month Cultural Celebration also takes place on February 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Holyday will speak and the International Decade for People of African Descent from 2015 to 2024 will be celebrated.
The City of Toronto is staging a Black History photo display and events for the public. The City last month marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with events and speeches. January 20 is declared Martin Luther King Jr. Day and is a public holiday in the U.S.
Known for his “I Have A Dream” speech King was gunned down in Memphis on April 4, 1968. The famed American civil rights leader was assassinated at the age of 39 while on the balcony of the famed Lorraine Motel.