Call it whatever you like, but at this time of year some people, even the ones who should know become a bit confused about what’s going on around the city to recognize celebrate and or commemorate the important event that’s should be foremost in each and every Black person’s mind, Black History Month.
Given the importance of that annual moment or period in the lives of Black people (People of African descent) one would think that the month-long celebration of that moment in time would be recognized with more fanfare “to-do” however or whatever people choose to do to recognize and or celebrate noteworthy events in their history, life or lives.
I have vague memories of those first BHM recognitions and celebrations in Montreal many decades ago.
The specific era and people with whom I associated and places we frequented for different events have mostly evaporated from my mind (as time does its work on my memory, reminding me that it has a way of doing things to the mind that are inevitable, but normal and explicable if you choose to do the natural and normal human things. We worry about time and how it invariably impacts us in various and individual ways.
Meanwhile, the world continues to do what it naturally does, and depending on how our passing time affects and impacts our lives we’ll focus just a little bit more or less about a celebration that for many is neither here nor there.
Unnecessarily… perhaps?
Just according to how our individual and collective lives and histories play out, as they all inevitably will along our chosen collective and individual paths.
As I reflect on BHM times gone by, when more people were actively involved in contributing and participating in different events, I’m sure when this period of our collective existence comes around many would like to see BHM celebrations elevated to the 21st century era level of celebration.
There are numerous creative individuals around who would like to collaborate with others to make things of public interest available for public consumption – whatever that might me. Anything that might attract audiences… art work for example.
There’s always interest in art, whatever the medium, and people do take pride in showing off… not as a tourist attraction to be gawked at for example, but as a learning/teaching event.
We see and or hear of such events often enough around Montreal streets and and other venues.
People are often curious about others and what they do around this time of year, which is often on display in public places and spaces: schools, arenas and other public spaces and places…
What better occasion or time than Black History Month to satisfy curious eyes and minds and ears?
What better way to learn about us Black people than the annual period of celebration
Black people, after all, do have a history far beyond what we’re subjected to, or how we’re usually portrayed via television and other media on a daily basis. Like most people, or everyone else (so-called “ethnic groups”: We and whatever you see and hear courtesy of media, We’re more than that, and I daresay more!
BLACK HISTORY and its celebrations
