February is Black History Month – a time to celebrate the history, culture, diversity and achievements of Black people in Canada and recognize the contributions of Black communities nationwide.
This year’s Canadian theme is Black Legacy and Leadership, Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations. People are encouraged to celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians who helped shape the country and paved “the way for a more equitable and inclusive future.”
There are several events planned at VIU to mark this important month. Many thanks to event organizers, in particular Dr. Sonnet L’Abbé, for putting together these events. Everyone is invited to attend the events listed below:
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story film screening
When: Tuesday, January 28 from 7 to 9 pm
Where: Building 355, Room 203, Nanaimo campus
The department of Studies in Women and Gender and the Positive Space Alliance are co-hosting a screening of a new National Film Board documentary, Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, which is getting rave reviews. All are welcome. Free admission and no registration is required.
The film tells the story of a lost R&B star who eclipsed Etta James and Little Richard. Trans soul singer Jackie Shane blazed an extraordinary trail with an unbreakable commitment to her truth. Forty years after vanishing from public view, this 20th-century icon finally gets her second act. Check out the VIU Events listing for more information.
Soundin’ Canaan book launch
When: Thursday, February 6, doors open at 6:30 pm, readings 7 to 8 pm
Where: The Vault Café, 499 Wallace St, Nanaimo
Part exploration of a key group of Black Canadian poets, part literary, cultural and musical history, VIU English Professor Dr. Paul Watkins’ new book, Soundin’ Canaan, demonstrates how music in Black Canadian poetry is not solely aesthetic, but a form of social, ethical and political expression. Check out the VIU Events listing for more information.
Liberation Poetry Open Mic
When: Tuesday, February 11 at 11:30 am
Where: Malaspina Theatre lobby (Building 310)
In the spirit of Black History Month, Dr. Sonnet L’Abbé will host a lunchtime open mic celebrating Black authors and the power of poetry to articulate joy, rage, solidarity, struggle and hope for the future. All voices, readers and listeners are welcome! To sign up to read or perform, please email Sonnet.Labbe@viu.ca. One or two poems, or three minutes of reading or singing. Read your own work or share a poem you love by a Black author. Check out the VIU Events listing for more information.
Book club: The Message, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
When: Tuesday, February 25 at 12:30 pm
Where: Malaspina Theatre lobby (Building 310)
Dr. Sonnet L’Abbé will lead a discussion of Ta-Nehisi Coates' bestselling new book, The Message. Pick up a copy now and come prepared to share responses and questions. Check out the VIU Events listing for more information.
“The Message takes readers through Coates’ journeys all over the world, recounting his experiences in places like Dakar, Senegal; Columbia, South Carolina; and Palestine’s West Bank. Each location is a springboard for reflecting on topics such as white supremacy, colonialism, and what it means to be a Black writer today." – The Oberlin Review.
Musical performance – “My Black History Is Poetry, Is Jazz”
When: Wednesday, February 26. Doors open at 4 pm, performance 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Where: Building 320, Room 105
Come and hear from VIU poet Dr. Sonnet L’Abbé how jazz and poetry are interconnected practices of joy and resilience. L’Abbé, vocals and poetry, and Nick Peck on piano. Check out the VIU Events listing for more information.
Cornel West wrote: “Jazz is a mode of democratic action. [It is] the middle road between invisibility and anger. It is where self-confident creativity resides. Black music is the paradigm for how Black people have best dealt with their humanity, their complexity.”