Toronto libraries celebrate Black History Month

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Library is the temple of learning, and learning has liberated more people than all the wars in human history. A black person who wants to be liberated first needs to get learning. If he does, it will make him a formidable force against a would-be oppressor.” ~ Carl Rowa

If you can imagine, there once was a time that the assumption was that black people just weren’t interested in literacy or having an education. An asinine thought also existed that black people didn’t have the same capacity as white people to learn.

These thoughts led to a great deal of segregation in North America. To learn more about this, I implore you to read the book, “The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South: Civil Rights and Local Activism,” by Shirley and Wayne Wiegand. The book goes into great detail about the hardships that blacks faced when it came to utilizing community spaces as learning spaces.

I bring this up only to recognize the advances that we have made as Africans living in the diaspora. A library is now considered a third place, meaning it is a place that is neither one’s home (considered first place), nor workspace (considered second place). It is a place that you can go to in a community and help yourself to a plethora of knowledge. There are no segregated rooms; actually, now a library is a cornucopia of people from all ages, genders, religions, and cultures.

The library is now seen as a contributor to the social well-being of the community. It provides counselling for students, and programs and assistance for people of all ages. With it being Black History Month, there is an increase in activities that are being offered, and with the current stand off between teachers and the government, we as a community must find ways in which to supplement our student’s education.

Below we have provided a sample list of activities that are happening at Toronto Public Libraries. I implore parents to visit their cities library websites and see what is being offered for the community. We are pleased to say that this year, there seems to be a larger variety of programs being offered, so why not take advantage

Fresh Fadez: Haircutting Workshop
Tuesday February 18^th, 2020
3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
35 Fairview Mall Drive, Toronto, ON M2J 4S4
Phone: 416-395-5750

Kevin Bisram is setting up his barbershop in the Youth Hub! Students can come observe haircutting fundamentals while discussing topics of self-esteem and personal image. A young person could explore haircutting as a possible career path. Drop-ins are welcome. No registration required. This workshop is for ages 13-19.

Before the 6ix: The 20/20 Mixtape – Beats from Toronto’s Deep Hip-Hop History
Wednesday, February 19^th, 2020
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8
Phone: 416-395-5577
Hinton Learning Theatre

This one is for the hip-hop heads. Come sit in on a discussion with: Jully Black, Kid Kut, Carey Riley, and Solitair about Toronto’s deep hip-hop history. Music journalist and documentary producer Del Cowie, in association with accomplished Toronto DJ Agile, will host a conversation looking back at the 20^th anniversary of Toronto’s hip-hop music released in the year 2000.

History On Film Series – Black History – The Best Of Enemies (2019)
Thursday, February 20^th, 2020 | 5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Brentwood Library
36 Brentwood Road North, Toronto, ON M8X 2B5
Phone: 416-394-5240

The Best Of Enemies. A timely drama that centres on an unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater, an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina during the racially-charged summer of 1971. The incredible events that unfolded changed Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever.

2019 Movie – 133 minutes – Rated PG-13. Drop-In Movie.
Based on the book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson

Paint Night: Celebrating Black Excellence
Saturday February 22^nd, 2020 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
York Woods Library
1785 Finch Avenue West, Toronto, ON M3N 1M6

Paint a Toronto themed masterpiece at the library! Join Toronto-based artist Grace for a one-hour painting workshop celebrating Black artists. This workshop is for ages 8+. Please call 416-395-0768 to register.

A Positive Narrative of Jamaican/Caribbean History
Tuesday, February 25th, 2020
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Barbara Frum Library
20 Covington Road, Toronto, ON M6A 3C1
Phone: 416-395-5440

In honour of Black History Month, Jamaican/Canadian guitarist, composer, teacher, and Afro-Jamaican oral artist, Maurice Gordon, will touch on the greatness and achievements of Jamaica, its people, its music and its history.

To learn more about what is happening this Black History Month at your local libraries, visit your cities library website. Ontario. Let’s take back control of our student’s education.