Celebrating African Heritage and Black History |
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A new African Nova Scotian flag is flying on University Hall in honour of African Heritage and Black History month celebrations. Learn more about the origins of the flag in this video from the Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute.
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Dear students, faculty, and staff,
February is Black History Month across Canada and African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia. At Acadia, we are celebrating Black Joy! The theme recognizes and honours Black people's achievements at Acadia and worldwide.
Programming will start this Sunday with a Chapel Service and run through the entire month. I hope you will have the opportunity to participate in one of the many learning opportunities and celebrations planned! My sincere thanks to those of you who worked so hard to make these events happen.
Only by learning and working together can we create the inclusive and welcoming learning, living, and working environment that we all deserve.
For its part, through the work of the President's Anti-Racism Taskforce, Acadia is taking concrete steps to value the knowledge, strength, and contributions of Black students, faculty, and staff through a more comprehensive definition of institutional excellence.
Acadia is also committed to the Scarborough Charter and the National Dialogues and Action to address anti-Black racism and promote Black inclusion. And we are signatories to the Dimensions Charter, which addresses systemic barriers in research faced by women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minority and racialized groups, and members of LGBTQ2+ communities.
In addition to these institution-wide initiatives and the work they entail, we must also take the time to celebrate! After all, we can all use more joy on these cold winter days!
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Sincerely,
Peter
Dr. Peter Ricketts
President and Vice-Chancellor
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January 30 - Attend a Celebratory Chapel Service
Events for African Heritage and Black History recognition at Acadia begin with a worship service at the Manning Memorial Chapel on Sunday, January 30, 2022.
Special guests include Cydney Gibson, President of the Sisters of Colour Club at Acadia, and renowned African Nova Scotian Musician Mark Riley.
All are invited to join in the service via YouTube on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at 7 p.m. by going to the link provided on the Chapel website.
The Chapel service provides a spiritual interpretation of Acadia's theme for the month, Black Joy, and is focused on “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength.”
The Chapel will offer a series of readings and sermons, which will be announced throughout the month.
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Fourth-year biology major Cydney Nicole Gibson is the president of Sisters of Colour Club, which promotes the togetherness and sisterhood of women, specifically women of colour.
She is also the Diversity and Inclusion student union representative, an international student ambassador, and a member of Dance Acadia.
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Known as the Man of Bands, Mark Riley is a professional musician and entertainer and provides music services across Canada.
He is an ANSMA Rising Star winner for various Annapolis Valley-based projects, including the groups Bluesmobile, Shoulder to Shoulder, the Mark Riley Quartet and the Mark Riley Project.
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February 3 - Attend a Reading and Discussion about being #BlackInSchool
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#BlackInSchool is Habiba Cooper Diallo’s high school journal, in which she documents, processes, and resists the systemic racism, microaggressions, stereotypes, and outright racism she experienced in Canada’s education system. Her words will resonate with some but should shock, appall, and animate a great many more into action towards a society that is truly equitable for all.
Join the author for a reading and discussion on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at noon.
Habiba Cooper Diallo was a finalist in the 2020 Bristol Short Story Prize, the 2019 Writers’ Union of Canada Short Prose Competition, and the 2018 London Book Fair Pitch Competition. She founded Women’s Health Organization International, to bring fistula to the attention of the Canadian public and to address certain medical concerns of African-descended women living in Canada. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in public health.
February 3, 2022, at noon.
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February 15-17 - Experience the 2022 Simpson Lectures
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The Simpson Lectures provide an opportunity for distinguished scholar-practitioners to reflect with our community on effective ministry practices for our current cultural context.
The three-day program takes place in mid-February and includes lectures, daytime seminars, and worship experiences. The lectures were established and endowed by Mr. Gerald Simpson of Deer Island, New Brunswick.
This year, the lectures will explore - How Then Shall We Live? Racism in the Church.
February 15-17
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February 28 - Attend a Evening with Donald Oliver
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The Honorable Donald Oliver (’60, ’07 HON) has been a lawyer, professor, farmer, businessman, author, Cordon Bleu Chef, and Senator who rose to serve with distinction as Deputy Speaker in the Senate of Canada; as Chairman of six standing committees of Parliament; as Chairman or Deputy Chairman of seven inter-parliamentary associations; and as a ubiquitous spokesperson for diversity, pluralism, fairness and equality.
On this final day of African Heritage and Black History Month at 7 p.m., Dr. Oliver will discuss his life’s work and experiences as a Black Nova Scotian with Executive Director, Alumni Affairs Oonagh Proudfoot (’93, ’06).
February 28, at 7 p.m.
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TBA - More Events to Come
Over the coming days, event organizers will be sharing details with our campus community, including African Heritage Night at Acadia Athletics, a panel discussion, movie nights, and more! We hope you will participate, learn more, and celebrate Black Joy! Check the Acadia Event Calendar for updates.
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On Demand - African Heritage Month launched in Nova Scotia
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On January 26, 2022, Nova Scotia held a virtual provincial proclamation launch and poster unveiling ceremony for African Heritage Month. This year's them is Through Our Eyes: The Voices of African Nova Scotians. It recognizes the legacies of people of African descent through first voice, lived realities, and experiences.
The theme highlights that when we listen to others’ perspectives, interpretations, and views on the world, particularly those from marginalized communities, we will gain a more meaningful understanding of how to make our world a better place.
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