Black History Month events held in two locations in Amherstburg

By Ron Giofu

Black History Month events are underway with a number of different celebrations and talks marking the occasion.

Events in Amherstburg kicked off last Thursday night with a reception for the “Rarely Seen: Art from the Amherstburg Freedom Museum” collection and continued throughout the weekend.

A near sell-out crowd came to the Nazrey AME Church, located on the museum’s grounds, last Friday night to hear a concert from the Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO) entitled “Celebrating Black Voices: The Chevalier de Saint-Georges.” The concert featured the works of Black composers including Joseph Bologne, Jessie Montgomery and Oscar Peterson and the vocal talents of Florine Ndumibandi.

The Nazrey AME Church was the focal point of events Saturday afternoon, with best-selling author Desmond Cole on hand for a presentation followed by a discussion and Q&A with the audience. He is the author of the book “The Skin We’re In.”

Sunday saw museum board member Cari-Lynn Ristic read at the River Bookshop’s “story time” event. The bookshop partnered with the museum for the Black History Months events.

WSO executive director Sheila Wisdom believed last Friday night’s concert went well.

“I think it was an extraordinary experience for everyone,” said Wisdom. “We were honoured to be able to bring our music to this incredible place.”

Wisdom said the WSO tries to share its music with the community and concerts like the one in Amherstburg was one of the ways they do it. Music director Robert Franz selected the music performed at the concert, Wisdom pointed out, with the selections showing the contributions made by Black composers in both the 18th Century right up until today.

Ndumibandi was praised with having “an amazing voice,” with Wisdom adding the accomplishments of Black voices being a goal of the concert.

Cole’s discussion Saturday was held in the church, which museum president Monty Logan said for “our ancestors, my ancestors, this was a place to gather and build community.”

Cole said a tour of the museum kept him on his learning journey about history and his talks sometimes upset people, but that is not necessarily his intent.

“It’s kind of part of the territory,” he said. “The truth is most important no matter how you feel about it. What we are experiencing today should upset.”

Cole said he was not interested in Black History Month, adding he prefers to think of it as “African Liberation Month.” He said “we’re still struggling” and posed questions to the crowd including who are today’s asylum seekers and freedom fighters. He noted there has been racism in segregation in Canada as well as the United States and that when escaped slaves came to places like Amherstburg, that didn’t mean their struggles were over.

“It’s not as simple as saying when you get here you are fine,” he said. “There are still people questioning your existence and freedom.”

There are still issues that have to be fought for today, Cole indicated, bringing up a Pride parade in Toronto that, only a few years ago, was interrupted by the Black Lives Matter movement. While white people where aghast at the move, Cole said it was done to show there are queer and bisexual Black people as well.

“Are being Black and being queer mutually exclusive?” he asked.

The treatment of Black people by police was another issue addressed, with Cole stating he no longer watches videos of such incidents including the recent beating of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. He told the audience if it were a white person being beaten, it would not have received the same coverage as the public would have been incidents occur in Canada. He pointed out incidents that occurred in York Region and Calgary but challenged the audience to name the people involved.

“Do you know their names? No, you don’t,” he said, stating the Canadian media doesn’t cover the issue the same. Most conflicts can be solved nonviolently, he believed, and questioned why sidearms are carried by police in all instances, including in schools. Police presence in school was another issue discussed, with Cole later adding that schools are supposed to be a “sanctuary” for students.

Cole recalled speaking at a police hearing in Toronto and having two armed guards at each end of the table. He believed that to be a case of “white paranoia” and encouraged everyone of all races to speak up against injustice.

“I didn’t know how this was going to go,” Cole would tell the crowd, noting the book came out three years ago. He said he was pleased by the discussion and added “the fight is in this room right now.” upset with such violence being shown on television.

“What I learned here is the work is ongoing and needs to continue,” said Cole.

“A dog being beaten would not be shown on the news this way,” said Cole.

Cole cited Canadian police chiefs commenting on the issues, including Windsor police chief Jason Bellaire, but questioned how many comments and statements are put out when such

Future events include Willow Key presenting “Windsor’s Black Mecca: Recovering the Stories of the McDougall St. Corridor” tonight (Feb. 8) in the River Bookshop’s “Hole in the Wall” second floor event space. Thursday night will feature “It Started with a Dream: History of the Amherstburg Freedom Museum” and that also will be at “The Hole in the Wall.”

Both events start at 6:30 p.m. and are free to attend.

The “Rarely Seen” exhibit runs every Saturday and Sunday free of charge in the “Hole in the Wall.” A virtual tour is also available on the Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s YouTube site.