From educators to leaders, the west coast has a prestigious black history that's being honoured with the Nanaimo African Heritage Society's upcoming Black History Month finale gala.
Shalema Gantt, founder of the Nanaimo African Heritage Society, said the event is for anyone from any race or background who wants to honour black contributions to the community.
"It's to celebrate the contributions and the input that black people have had in the world," Gantt said. "It's to tell the legacy of some of the most inspiring folks that continue to make a path. To come from in slavery to Barack Obama is pretty incredible."
Keynote speakers for the event include Nanaimo-Lantzville MLA George Anderson and Lisa Gunderson.
For entertainment, Dee Daniels, a jazz vocalist, blues vocalist gospel and symphony pops vocalist, will be performing, as well as Nadine States with soul music, and African drumming.
Black History Month has its origins from Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard professor. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week during the month of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
One of the major black historical figures on the West Coast whom Gantt drew attention to is former MLA Emery Barnes. An alternate on the U.S. Olympic track and field team in 1952, he emigrated to Canada and was elected as a member of B.C.'s legislative assembly, later becoming speaker in 1994. Canada's other first black MLA was Rosemary Brown, also elected in 1972. During her term she introduced legislation to advance human rights in B.C. including targeting sexism and racism in the B.C. education curriculum.
The 25th annual Nanaimo African Heritage Society gala takes place on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Bowen Park Activity Centre. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a vendors' market, and the dinner begins at 7 p.m.
Dinner will be a mixed buffet with dishes from Jamaican, African and West Coast First Nations. The dress code is black or white for men, and silver or white for women. If requested attire isn't owned, Gantt still encourages attendance with formal wear, but no jeans.
"It's a lot of fun, you get to learn something you might [have not known,] the history, but we try to make it fun," Gantt said. "The food is always fantastic."
Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased online at www.nanaimoafricanheritagesociety.com.
"We, as people, need to come together more than ever with the divisions that have arrived in our world," said Gantt. "All of the hatred and dislike for people, we're just people on this Earth and we've got to share this Earth together."
