The London Black History Coordinating Committee (LBHCC) is starting black History Month With an opening ceremony later this week in London, Ontario.
Held at the Museum London at 421 Rideout St on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm, the event features keynote speakers and performances by spoken word artist Moyo Omol, rap artist Koto and the London Gospel Collective choir. among others.
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With this year’s theme as Reflections on Black London from 1820 – 2020, the annual event aims to celebrate the strength and resilience of the black community while showcasing the diversity of cultural and ethnic groups within the City of Forest.
“This is an opportunity for us to reach out and learn about the importance and purpose of black history,” said Leroy Hibbert, multicultural outreach coordinator for LUSO Community Services and a committee member for the LBHCC.
“It is to celebrate the contribution we make and who we are as a community to the City of London.”
According to Hibbert, Black History Month began as a week and was first adopted by the City of Toronto, then the Province of Ontario.
Subsequently, the movement gained national recognition in 1995, when Jean Augustine, the first black female parliamentarian and cabinet minister, introduced a motion that was passed unanimously by parliament.
However, the world marked the first day of Black History Month this year with the funeral of Trae Nichols, who He died three days after a Jan. 7 confrontation with five police officers in Memphis, Tenn. Released video footage shows police officers brutally beating a 29-year-old black man for three minutes.
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The Memphis Police Department later fired the five officers, who are also black, and prosecutors last week charged them with second-degree murder, assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and harassment.
In regards to Black History Month Hibbert said that “although there is said to be trauma in our community,” “it is also important to talk about the joy and our importance as a people.”
“It is important that we have a balanced approach to the conversation, although tragedy does happen, it is also important to celebrate that we have come through it as a people,” he said. “Also, to talk about what we can do as a community to move forward because black history is not just for black people.
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“Black history is a part of Canadian history (and) I think it’s important to indicate that as well,” Hibbert said.
He said people do not need to be a member of the black community to take part in this weekend’s celebrations and is encouraging all Londoners to take part if they can.
“It’s just about people coming together,” he said.
LBHCC will be hosting several other events throughout February and a full list can be found at on their website,
– With files from Global News’ Sawyer Bogdan and Heidi Lee
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