It was a rare moment at the Alberta Legislature to bring together Alberta’s ruling and Official Opposition parties to share the contributions of the Black communities on February 3, 2020.
Hosted by Alberta Speaker of the House, Nathan Cooper, the speeches were centered on connecting the trailblazing efforts of Black Pioneers and the Black communities who came to Alberta recently. The resilience demonstrated by the Black community so far will be a good theme to summarize the speeches and the event.
“…The legacy of Black Albertans is one of resilience…Happy Black History Month,” MLA David Shepherd, Father of the Proclamation of February as Black History Month in Alberta, addresses community members in English and French at the 4th Annual Black History Month Celebration at the Alberta Legislature on February 3, 2020.
“…I hope to see many Black men and women also serve in future and long after I’m gone…,” Minister Kaycee Madu, first African born Provincial Minister of Alberta who also spoke at the Alberta Legislature Black History Month Celebration on February 3, 2020.
Premier Jason Kenney was not in attendance, so too was the Opposition Leader Rachel Notley. Premier Kenney will surface on the busy Black History Month trail of events at a $150 per person Black History Month fundraiser for his party, The Edmonton-South West United Conservative Association Black History Month Fundraiser in Edmonton on February 8, 2020, at the Edmonton EXPO Centre located on 7515 118 Avenue this Saturday, February 8, 2020, from 6:30 PM. While Opposition Leader Notley will appear at her free of charge Alberta NDP Caucus Reception celebrating Black History Month on Friday, February 21, 2020 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Vignettes Showcase Building on 10420 103 Avenue, Edmonton.
While the conversation on Black History in Alberta is gradually moving away from a Black Pioneer and Black American centered celebration to a celebration of the accomplishments of Black Albertans, both old and new, there is still too much emphasis on “the first Black to …”.
Not limited to the speeches at the legislature, a lot of time we hear Blacks say celebratory, “I’m the only Black there, or I’m the first Black to…”. This is fantastic but, it’s a personal accomplishment. The million Black question is how has the first Black or the only Black help others to join him or her in a career or industry where he or she has been able to figure it out how to get in, or what impact has he or she made on the community or the industry and beyond – what is his or her legacy. These questions should be the road ahead for Black History Month such that the rich Black History does not become a superficial limiting personal collection, in a fashion that people will grace the pages of history by just being the first Black to…
