A Message from the Chair of the Black History Month Planning Committee
The Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA), in partnership with the Town of Newmarket, presents Black History Month 2023. This year’s theme is:
The Black Family: Source of Perseverance and Resilience
These unprecedented and challenging times have provided us with an opportunity to re-evaluate our relationships, including those with family. Where possible, we have drawn upon the strength of family to negate isolation and social uncertainties.
Family is a basic unit in every society; however, the composition of the family is more complex to define. There is recognition that the "ideal family" is one subset of a diverse society. Nowhere has this been more marked than within the diverse multi-ethnic Black community. Black families are not all the same and, like other racial ethnicities, the geographical location, culture, religion and socio-economic status play a large part in the modeling of each family.
The historical challenges of the Black family from enslavement to present day are rooted in structural and institutional racism; this has served to delegitimize traditional African norms. In order to survive, the Black family has had to transform itself to buffer the experiences and impacts. Family and kin networks have served as an important bulwark.
The support structures and relationships formed out of strong family bonds make us stronger and are an aspect of success in navigating the complexities of society’s racial inequities.
The definition of perseverance and resilience aptly describes the Black families’ response to navigating systemic anti-Black racism.
Perseverance is the act of persisting despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. African descendant peoples display tremendous fortitude in ensuring that Black families are seen and heard.
Resilience is the process and outcome of adapting to challenging life experiences, especially through, mental, emotional and behavioral flexibility. It is this adapting to change and flexibility that has been internalized and infused into values for Black families survival.
Family values are an essential element across all racial ethnicities. Some of the traditions and culture of the Black family are rooted in respect for elders, education, community, social justice, advocacy, and faith. It is these values that give sustenance to the Black Family.
Writer and activist, Maya Angelou, describes the perseverance and resilience one gets from family when she said, “I sustain myself with the love of family.”
In addressing the Black family as a source of perseverance and resilience, we celebrate all Black families. Recognition is given to Black families which comprise a variety of identities: adoptive families, aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandparent parented families, blended families, chosen families of queer and trans people, extended families, fictive kin families (not related by blood), interracial families, mono-racial families, nuclear families, same-sex parented families, single-parent families, and families in which there is community/village parenting.
Throughout the month of February, NACCA will endeavor to explore various aspects of the Black family’s ability to sustain perseverance and resilience. We welcome everyone back to in-person events!
As always, we encourage that the education around Black History Month continues not only in February but throughout the year.
Pauline Jones
Chair
Black History Month Planning Committee
Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association
The Black Family: Source of Perseverance and Resilience
These unprecedented and challenging times have provided us with an opportunity to re-evaluate our relationships, including those with family. Where possible, we have drawn upon the strength of family to negate isolation and social uncertainties.
Family is a basic unit in every society; however, the composition of the family is more complex to define. There is recognition that the "ideal family" is one subset of a diverse society. Nowhere has this been more marked than within the diverse multi-ethnic Black community. Black families are not all the same and, like other racial ethnicities, the geographical location, culture, religion and socio-economic status play a large part in the modeling of each family.
The historical challenges of the Black family from enslavement to present day are rooted in structural and institutional racism; this has served to delegitimize traditional African norms. In order to survive, the Black family has had to transform itself to buffer the experiences and impacts. Family and kin networks have served as an important bulwark.
The support structures and relationships formed out of strong family bonds make us stronger and are an aspect of success in navigating the complexities of society’s racial inequities.
The definition of perseverance and resilience aptly describes the Black families’ response to navigating systemic anti-Black racism.
Perseverance is the act of persisting despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. African descendant peoples display tremendous fortitude in ensuring that Black families are seen and heard.
Resilience is the process and outcome of adapting to challenging life experiences, especially through, mental, emotional and behavioral flexibility. It is this adapting to change and flexibility that has been internalized and infused into values for Black families survival.
Family values are an essential element across all racial ethnicities. Some of the traditions and culture of the Black family are rooted in respect for elders, education, community, social justice, advocacy, and faith. It is these values that give sustenance to the Black Family.
Writer and activist, Maya Angelou, describes the perseverance and resilience one gets from family when she said, “I sustain myself with the love of family.”
In addressing the Black family as a source of perseverance and resilience, we celebrate all Black families. Recognition is given to Black families which comprise a variety of identities: adoptive families, aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandparent parented families, blended families, chosen families of queer and trans people, extended families, fictive kin families (not related by blood), interracial families, mono-racial families, nuclear families, same-sex parented families, single-parent families, and families in which there is community/village parenting.
Throughout the month of February, NACCA will endeavor to explore various aspects of the Black family’s ability to sustain perseverance and resilience. We welcome everyone back to in-person events!
As always, we encourage that the education around Black History Month continues not only in February but throughout the year.
Pauline Jones
Chair
Black History Month Planning Committee
Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association
Prime Minister Trudeau |
Premier Ford |
Mayor, John Taylor |
Chair, Jerisha Grant-Hall |
Black History Month, Calendar of Events
Black History Month 2023 | Reception and Celebration |
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Get Tickets
Feb 4 to 28 2023 | Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South)
Tuesday to Saturday | 10 a.m. to 12 pm. & 1 to 4 p.m.| Free Admission
Join us in honouring Black History Month at the Elman W. Campbell Museum. Learn about the 75th Anniversary of Windrush through a new featured exhibit ‘The Barrel Children: The Children Windrush Left Behind’.
Tuesday to Saturday | 10 a.m. to 12 pm. & 1 to 4 p.m.| Free Admission
Join us in honouring Black History Month at the Elman W. Campbell Museum. Learn about the 75th Anniversary of Windrush through a new featured exhibit ‘The Barrel Children: The Children Windrush Left Behind’.
- Explore Newmarket’s Black history and the contributions of Black people to Ontario.
- Discover woodcarvings, jewelry and textiles from Ghana.
- Have fun trying out hands-on activities.
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The Ujamaa Marketplace is a foundation to a social enterprise that is intended to unite the African Canadian community around the goal of economic development through cooperative economics. The Ujamaa Marketplace aims to support and mentor the next generation of African Canadian business leaders by giving youth and entrepreneurs of African descent the access to resources that they need to successfully build their businesses.
Support Black-owned businesses throughout the month and beyond by clicking on the links below to shop online!
Support Black-owned businesses throughout the month and beyond by clicking on the links below to shop online!
Flag Raising Ceremony - February 1, 2023
Thanks to Amy Brathwaite Photography for capturing our historic Flag Raising Ceremony at Peace Park on Cane Parkway in Newmarket.