Black History Month in Victoria

By Sarah Pugh

February is Black History Month. While Victoria may not have a large black population compared to other major centres in Canada, black pioneers and city-dwellers have nevertheless played an important role in the region's development since the mid-1800s.

The organizers of this year's Black History Month have planned several events around town throughout the month. 

Other events planned include a screening of "Go Do Some Great Thing," a documentary film on February 1 about black pioneers in British Columbia. This event takes place at the Bruce Hutchinson Library at Commonwealth Place. Due to limited space, pre-registration is required although there is no admission fee. 

On February 10, a theatre evening featuring a monologue play by Justin Carter, "Son of Africville," will be held at the Metro Studio Theatre on Quadra St. Also performing at this event are Gergana Velinova and Pablo Cardenas with "A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson."  Tickets are $15/$10 students and available at the door or in advance at ticketrocket.org, or by phoning (250) 590-6291.

For the stalwart of character, a cemetery tour at Ross Bay Cemetery will take place on February 19th. Led by John Adams (of Ghostly Walks fame) and Valin Marshall of the BC Black History Awareness Society, this walk will visit the graves of many of the black citizens of long-ago Victoria, and tell the many stories of their varied, interesting, and challenging lives. 

Black History Month culminates with the screening of "Mighty Jerome," a new National Film Board documentary, at the James Bay New Horizons Centre on February 25^th, Black History Heritage Day, at 1 pm. The producer of the film, Selwyn Jacobs, will be present to provide an in-person introduction, and six community groups will have displays of BC and Canadian Black History. 

The film details the life and accomplishments of one of Canada's great athletes, Harry Jerome. A champion sprinter, Jerome battled injury and prejudice, setting multiple world records, earning a Master's degree in Physical Education, and assisting Pierre Trudeau in creating a Ministry of Sport. He was named Athlete of the Century for British Columbia and received the Order of Canada in 1971. Harry Jerome died in 1982, but his legacy of sport and commitment to personal achievement live on.

Ron Nicholson, president of the BC Black History Awareness Society, has seen the film and describes it as "very moving." As an avid student of black history, Nicholson made sure that the film would screen in a large enough venue in Victoria. It is being shown in many libraries across Canada for Black History Month but few have the capacity that the New Horizons Centre does. Nicholson expects that the film will appeal to a wide audience and looks forward to sharing it with the community in celebration of the richness of British Columbia's black history.