Changing Generational Narratives was the theme of the Black History Month event organized by Calgary Newcomer Centre on February 7, 2010 in Calgary.
The three taboo topics in the Black community are mental health, death, and sex. Silence on these topics is leading to social issues in the Black community with impacts in the home, in the justice system and beyond.
“…You cannot use a Canadian approach to solve an immigrant problem…” Fobete Dingha, Welcoming Community Associate, Centre for Newcomers, Calgary, the event organizer shared with Diversity Magazine the challenges of tackling a taboo topic such as mental health using a western approach without taping into newcomer help.
The challenges faced by young Black people with the justice system was also a topic of discussion at the event. The panelists discussed ways to help young people understand the system and how not to be a victim. Panel members were drawn from justice department, Calgary Police Service, and the Real Me Team of the Newcomer Centre who work with re-integrating young people into community after interaction with the justice system.
There is an identity crisis for young Black people as they are turn away when they try to integrate into mainstream, and also have conflict with their parents as they move closer to integration. The panel member shared that this conflict with parents could be taken care of by a respectful conversation between young people and their parents, not a talk-down discussion from the parents.
