{"id":98946,"date":"2025-01-30T15:31:14","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T19:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discoverhalifaxns.com\/?p=98946"},"modified":"2026-02-02T13:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T17:54:40","slug":"african-heritage-month-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discoverhalifaxns.com\/halifax-history\/african-heritage-month-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Black History is Canadian History: Honouring a Legacy Beyond February"},"content":{"rendered":"

This February, as African Heritage Month highlights the theme Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance<\/em>, historian and educator Dr. Afua Cooper reminds us that celebrating African heritage isn\u2019t just for one month\u2014it\u2019s a vital thread in Canada\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems to me that as a Black community, we’re still in a position where we’re saying, \u2018Hey, look at me. Hey, look at me.\u2019 We’re still begging, but we don’t have to beg,\u201d says Cooper, a former professor of Black History at Dalhousie University (2011\u20132024),\u00a0 where she founded the first Black studies program in Canada, Black and African Diaspora Studies, which is now offered as a bachelor’s degree.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don’t have to beg because we are citizens of Canada; we are worthy people, and our history and heritage should be appreciated not only by us, but by the wider community.\u201d<\/p>\n

2025’s theme builds on last year\u2019s focus on resilience, shifting attention to the remarkable, continuous achievements and lasting impact of the Black community in Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n

“Here is a time when we can focus on the heritage and history of Africa and African peoples all around the world,\u201d says Cooper. \u201cAnother name for African Heritage Month is Black History Month. As a historian, I tend to focus on history. Still, like I said, it’s a time to really focus and appreciate and disseminate this important heritage and history.”<\/p>\n

While resilience acknowledges the strength to overcome adversity, this year\u2019s theme celebrates how that strength has transformed into brilliance\u2014manifested through cultural achievements, community leadership, and a commitment to building a brighter future. This month\u2019s events reflect on past struggles and emphasize how the Black community continues to persevere, thrive, and inspire.<\/p>\n

“In every aspect of life that you look at, where you see Black people, you see the excellence of these people and their work, and especially their commitment,” says Cooper, who holds a PhD in Black Canadian History and African Diaspora Studies from the University of Toronto, where she now teaches history and feminist studies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This February, African Heritage Month honors Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance, highlighting the lasting impact and achievements of Black communities in Nova Scotia and beyond. Historian and educator Dr. Afua Cooper reminds us that Black history isn\u2019t just for one month\u2014it\u2019s an essential part of Canada\u2019s identity. From past struggles to present-day excellence, this year\u2019s theme shifts the focus from resilience to brilliance, recognizing cultural contributions, leadership, and a commitment to a brighter future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":467,"featured_media":98947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[370,1464],"ppma_author":[1546],"class_list":["post-98946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-halifax-history","category-history"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBlack History is Canadian History: Honouring a Legacy Beyond February - Discover Halifax<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This February, African Heritage Month\u00a0highlights the theme Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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