College set to celebrate Black History Month

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on February 2, 2022.

Herald file photo Tabbi Ndhlovu and Vero Amakobe record a cellphone video as they celebrate Tradition Dress Day at Lethbridge College during Black History Month in 2017.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge College will be celebrating Black history month on campus once again, after celebrating virtually in 2021.
During the month of February, the college will offer a variety of activities across campus to spotlight the history and achievements of its diverse population, while promoting inclusivity within the community. 
“As we mark our fifth official celebration of Black History Month at Lethbridge College, we join people worldwide in celebrating Black excellence and the resiliency of members of the various Black communities wherever they find themselves,” said on a press release Ibrahim Turay, instructor in the School of Justice Studies and event organizer.
He added that Black History Month also calls us to lift the voices and stories of Black peoples and other marginalized communities, who tend to be suppressed or ignored because we live in a colour-blind society where race and skin colour shouldn’t matter, yet it does in determining the life outcomes of those whom society identifies as Black or Brown.
Some of the actives scheduled for this month include a screening of John Ware Reclaimed at 2 p.m. Feb. 8 in the E.C. Fredericks Theatre.
The film follows Cheryl Foggo as she examines the mythology around John Ware, a Black cowboy who settled in Alberta before the turn of the 20th century.
Foggo aims to discover who this iconic figure was and what his legacy means in terms of anti-Black racism past and present. A panel discussion will follow the screening.
In addition, a Human Library, where students can “check out” a person just as they would a book and learn through engagement, stories and cultural knowledge, is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at Niitsitapi’ksimpstaan (the Aquarium).
And from Feb. 14 to 18, the Lethbridge College Students’ Association will be handing out Black History Month meal kits for Jollof Rice – an iconic West African dish.
Canada first officially recognized Black History Month in 1995, and Lethbridge College has held official Black History Month celebrations since 2017.
Lethbridge College has stated its commitment to making equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) an institutional priority by working to identify and overcome systemic barriers that impede individuals from underrepresented groups.
“Diversity is a fact. The opportunity to come together and learn about Black History allows us to understand each other’s stories, to build connection and relationships,” said in a press release Michelle Ní Dochartaigh-Derbich, EDI strategist and lead researcher at Lethbridge College.
She said we must remember that inclusion is an act. And it’s through mindful acts, and our commitment to improve equity and address systemic barriers black people navigate, that we go beyond a celebratory month and toward action that strengthens our communities overall.

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