Black History Month at BPL
Throughout the month of February, we honour and celebrate the legacy of Black Canadians, their communities, their achievements, and contributions throughout our Canadian history.
Black authors, performers and activists have profoundly shaped Canadian, American and world culture. By engaging with Black history, we gain insight into all Canadian and American history and the important roles played by members of Black communities.
Programs & Activities
Plan to join us for Black History Month events and special editions of our afternoon movie screenings and PA Day fun for kids. Everyone can attend BPL programs. All programs are free, and you don't need to have a library card to register.
Tales by Moonlight | Feb 8
Experience the vibrant rhythms and rich traditions of African culture in this engaging family program for all ages, presented by award-winning ethnomusicologist Babarinde Williams. Drumming and storytelling play a central role in celebrating life’s cycles and seasons across African communities, and this lively event brings these traditions to life through interactive storytelling, dance, and hand drumming. We supply the djembes—you join in the fun! Registration is required.
Joy of Community Sports | Feb 9
Author and media sports writer Perry King has long had an interest in how and what people can do to make neighbourhoods stronger and more cohesive for newcomers, minorities, and those who are disadvantaged. In his new book, Rebound: Sports, Community, and the Inclusive City, he explores the role of community sports in diverse urban centres and presents a compelling roadmap for re-imagining neighbourhoods whose residents are active, healthy, and genuinely connected. Registration is required.
Virtual Author Talk with Lee Hawkins | Feb 18
In a live, virtual event presented by BPL's digital resource, Library Speakers Consortium, Pulitzer Prize finalist and acclaimed journalist Lee Hawkins talks about his family’s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience in his riveting memoir, I Am Nobody's Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free. Hawkins examines how trauma from enslavement and Jim Crow limited the possibilities of his family thriving in America and how they succeeded despite the challenges. Registration is required. Don't worry if you miss the live talk—you can watch the recorded talk any time after the event through Library Speakers Consortium.
Afternoon Movies
On Tuesday afternoons, visit our Central Branch and watch movies on a big screen. No registration is required. Showtime is 1pm in Centennial Hall. Please email or call us at 905.639.3611 extension 1211 a few days before your visit if you need an accessibility accommodation.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Feb 4) follows Holiday during her career as she is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, with whom she has a tumultuous affair.
The Color Purple (Feb 11) 2023 film adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, tells the story of a woman who faces many hardships in her life but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
Brother (Feb 18) is a powerful film about Francis and Michael, sons of Caribbean immigrants, who face questions of masculinity, identity, and family amid the pulsing beat of Toronto's early hip-hop scene.
Looking for More?
Check out incredible, inspiring Canadian fiction and memoirs to read or listen to for Black History Month. Stories from authors across Canada cover issues of identity and immigration, injustice and oppression, and perseverance through difficult circumstances.
Fiction & Memoir for Black History Month
Celebrating BIPOC Success in TV & Film
Celebrating Black History Month
Celebrating Black Activists for Kids
