Celebration of Identity: Black History Month

Tihmily Li, Communications Officer
Black Canadians and their communities have played a role in shaping the nation since the 1600s but February was only recognized as Black History Month throughout Canada as of December 1995. Since then, Black History Month has been an opportunity to bring to the forefront the contributions of Black Canadians and to appreciate the mosaic of cultures from the Black diaspora. 

The Government of Canada has declared the theme for this year’s Black History Month as “Ours to Tell”, representing the opportunity for Black communities and individuals to speak about their histories, successes, sacrifices and triumphs. This week, our special guest speaker is a seasoned storyteller and writer and she had her own story to tell.

On Monday, we welcomed Jennifer Holness, an award-winning director, writer and producer, to speak with the entire school about her latest documentary, Subjects of Desire (2021). Subjects of Desire examines how the media portrays Black women, perpetuating certain stereotypes and shaping society’s perceptions of beauty. Jennifer spoke about how her motivation to research and create this documentary stemmed from seeing her own daughters’ perception of their beauty. This documentary aims to help dismantle what society and the media have taught us about beauty standards, and to help Black women embrace their beauty without the lens of white colonial gaze. Students will have the opportunity to view the film in their English classes and discuss the topics explored. 

Every person has a story and exposure to stories from different cultures and perspectives give us a multi-faceted view of ourselves and of others. By continuing to share more stories and perspectives, we hope to grow our community’s understanding and empathy.
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Greenwood College School

443 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, ON M4S 2L8
Tel: 416 482 9811
We acknowledge with gratitude the Ancestral lands upon which our main campus is situated. These lands are the Ancestral territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Anishinabek and the Wendake. The shared responsibility of this land is honoured in the Dish with One Spoon Treaty and as settlers, we strive to care for the land, the waters, and all creatures in the spirit of peace. We are responsible for respecting and supporting the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. When away from this campus we vow to be respectful to the land by protecting and honouring it. We will create relationships with the people and the land we may visit by understanding the territories we enter and the nations who inhabit them.
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