February is Black History Month and this year’s theme is “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”, usually the themes of Black History Month are intended to focus on specific elements of Black culture in Canada. Last year the theme was “Ours to Tell”, which focused on commemorating the life of the Honourable Lincoln Alexander, the first Black Member of Parliament in Canada and the first Black person to serve as a Cabinet minister. This year the intention is to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Black people throughout Canadian history, while focusing on what needs to be done now to ensure opportunities are available for Black folks in the future as well.
Accessing healthcare in a safe and inclusive way is a big part of that! Canada has a difficult history when it comes to discrimination in healthcare access for Black people, and that history informs a lot of how our healthcare is set up today. Throughout the month we’ll be talking about various aspects of healthcare access including Canada’s history of medical racism (some of which is VERY recent), how to advocate for yourself in healthcare settings, what sort of work is being done by communities on the ground right now, and different ways you can show up as an ally or help advocate for a just healthcare system.
In the meantime, we’ll share some resources to help you learn more about Black History in Canada, throughout the month we’ll continue to highlight different local organizations and events throughout Black Canadian history too!
While Teen Health Source focuses on information related to sexual health and relationships, we can still suggest resources and further reading if you have more questions, feel free to contact one of our peer educators. [Link]
Last Updated: February 2024
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