Black History Month

February is Black History Month and we are celebrating the work and lives of Black artists.  Throughout history, the creative contributions of Black artists and countless ethnic groups have been obscured and often overlooked by the art world. The art and artefacts of a society tell a story; it can also encourage inspiration, mobilisation and healing. Black art gives voice to those previously silenced celebrating the beauty and triumph of Black culture.…

For those of us interested in learning more about an aspect of history, primary sources are invaluable to understanding past societies and events. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a primary source is a document, image, map, object or information source contemporary to an era or event. They offer a window into various historical periods by capturing aspects them as expressed by those living through them – not unlike a time machine.…

February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month What better way to celebrate Black History throughout the year than with book suggestions to add to your own reading wishlist?  In this virtual book display, we selected books published in the past couple of years that shine a light on the Black Canadian experience.  From poetry to biography,  short stories to non-fiction we hope that you enjoy these suggestions.   Poetry…

As a music lover, I have always cherished the many resources the library provides for those who want to learn more about different musicians and genres. In addition to musical scores, the library subscribes to many streaming databases and has an extensive collection of CDs and LP vinyl that you can request and put on hold with your OneCard. As it is Black History Month, I sat down with Lucinda Johnston, our…

The University of Alberta Library subscribes to numerous databases that are core for certain disciplines, but also really deserving of wider attention. Here is one of those gems in honour of Black History Month… AllAfrica.com is best described in their own words as, “a voice of, by and about Africa – aggregating, producing and distributing news and information from over 140 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and…

“Usually, when people talk about the “strength” of black women . . . . they ignore the reality that to be strong in the face of oppression is not the same as overcoming oppression, that endurance is not to be confused with transformation.” ― bell hooks The world has been blessed by the existence of many extraordinary Black women who have called out the ongoing injustices that plague society. The history and…

This blog post was written by Cameron Library ISS Grace Romanow as part of our continuing Black History Month series exploring Black Futures. One of the most beautiful things about technology is that it’s accessible to everyone… or is it?  What happens when the algorithm used in the creation of technology is skewed against people of colour; when the data used to train artificial intelligence is already biased against minorities based on…

This year we have been taking a different approach to Black History Month at the library, by shifting our focus from the past to looking towards a Black Future. The road towards a Black Future can seem long and impassable, but there is reason to embrace optimism! This collection features works on contemporary activist movements that can serve as both a map and inspiration on our journey towards an equitable society. Activism…

Understanding the past is a powerful way to help keep it from repeating in the future. In trying to be a better ally to those in the Black community, I’ve found it particularly enlightening to learn and understand the fraught road towards equity and civil rights, which is sadly still being traversed. If you’re like me and seek to understand how we have gotten to this point we have some resources for…