February is Black History Month and a chance to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Black communities in Canada and worldwide. This month, the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) invites you to learn from the perspectives and experiences of community leaders, authors and professionals in Canada’s Black community. From February 1 to 28, there will be activities of all kinds (online, in person and for all ages) to help you explore and reflect on how Black communities have resisted oppression in the past and continue to fight racism in the present.
Come to the Library, in person or online, to hear remarkable histories and authentic tales that will awaken and inspire. All month, enjoy storytimes, poetry workshops, history sessions, testimonials and talks, not to mention art and craft activities. Here’s a glimpse of what OPL has in store:
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Thursday, February 9, at 6:30 pm, at the Sunnyside Branch: Meet author Leslie Roach. Ottawa-based author, poet and speaker Leslie Roach will talk about her past experiences with racism and how she broke through in the literary world. In 2020, she released her debut book Finish this Sentence, a collection of poetry about healing from the effects of racism, finding one’s voice and power, and claiming your human right to be happy.
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Monday, February 13, at 6 pm in English, and Wednesday, February 15, at 6 pm in French: Retracing history with Dr. Amadou Ba on Zoom. Dr. Amadou Ba is a historian, political scientist, researcher and writer with a PhD in History, a Master’s in Political Science and a Bachelor’s in Education. Currently, Amadou Ba teaches in the School of Education and the Department of Political Science at Laurentian University and teaches African History at Nipissing University. He will talk about some of the history and contributions of the Black community in Canada.
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Wednesday, February 22, at 7 pm, at the National Arts Centre - Peter A. Herrndorf Place: Chat with Catherine Hernandez. The Ottawa Public Library, in partnership with the National Arts Centre, will showcase award-winning author and screenwriter Catherine Hernandez who will be presenting her speech "What would Ms Hina Do?" The performance explores the themes of community and allyship that are prominent in Hernandez’ highly rated novel Scarborough. through the beloved character at the centre of the novel, a Muslim social worker called Ms. Hina. She wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of Scarborough, which was nominated for 11 Canadian Screen Awards and won 8 including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
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Tuesday, February 7, 14, 21 and 28 on Zoom: Arts can Teach - Poetry workshops with Ariel Clarke. Ariel Clarke will guide the audience through an exploration of Black poets and their works, with an emphasis on Maya Angelou and Amanda Gorman, to learn about different kinds of poetry and how to interpret them. Ariel has done specific work in social justice education targeting systemic racism, which has allowed her to implement anti-racist and anti-colonial perspectives as part of her sessions.
Beyond these workshops and events, everyone is welcome to join the conversations on OPL’s social media platforms, where all will get to hear from local Black leaders as well as enjoy works of Black poets highlighted all month long.
For anyone with a desire to discover new books and content on Black history, the OPL’s librarians are at the ready with a list of great reads from Black authors, including many local writers. Activities all month long will help us explore, share and learn together as we delve into Black history and culture. For more information on the Library’s Black History Month festivities, visit BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.