This year's theme for Black History Month is Black legacy and leadership.
“In communities across Canada, Black leaders, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and activists have shaped our country’s history and continue to inspire its future,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
He said the Canadian government last year extended its efforts with the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent until 2028 and has adopted a second decade that goes until 2038.
The United Nations Decade for People of African Descent is a worldwide call to action that addresses the contributions of people of African descent.
“This extension allows us to further invest in Black-led programs, advance racial justice, and create opportunities for Black Canadians,” Trudeau said.
The Decade recognizes people of African descent as representing a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.
“To date, we have committed over one billion dollars to Black-focused initiatives, including the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative,” Trudeau said.
The Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative supports more than 2,700 projects to grow Black-led, Black-focused, Black-serving charities and non-profit organizations.
“We developed Canada's Black Justice Strategy to address systemic barriers and injustices by ending the over-representation of Black communities in the justice system,” he said.
“Through the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund, we are supporting Black Canadians to develop more culturally focused knowledge, capacity, and programs to improve mental health in their communities,” Trudeau said.
He said the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund and the Black Entrepreneurship Program are helping improve the social and economic outcomes of Black communities, including assistance in helping Black-owned businesses grow and succeed both now and in the future.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I encourage everyone to learn more about Black Canadian history and reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of Black Canadians,” Trudeau said.
“Let us recommit to building a country where every Canadian can succeed and have their voices heard,” he said.
“I see it more as a time to celebrate being a Black person in North America,” said Prince Ndukwe, a Kinesiology student at the University of Guelph-Humber and winger on the Humber Hawks men’s rugby team.
“I’m from a long lineage of hardships, a lot has gone on throughout the history of being Black in North America,” he said
He thinks it’s important because he feels every young Black person “needs another leader that relates to them.”
“What comes to mind often is a late coach of mine, his name is Paul Myers, he was a rugby coach of mine back in the day,” Ndukwe said.
He said Myers was the person who was almost the second father figure to him.
“I feel like it’s a good place for motivation and a good place for inspiration,” said Ndukwe when talking about having someone to look up to.
“When you see someone you look up to, you admire a lot, it’s kind of like a lot of those mirrors or those characteristics in them that you enjoy the most,” he said.
Ndukwe said it can be carried on throughout the lifetime and will be able to impact someone else.
“ I've been told by many coaches that Whenever, whenever you get something, pay it forward,” he said.
“I always want to leave something for whenever, whenever they have something good up there, it's like, I feel like that gifts are something that you share,” Ndukwe said.
He said if someone has a gift, they would want to share it.
“So in terms of a legacy, whatever it is that you're best at, it's something you'd want to share as a gift to whatever community you're a part of,” Ndukwe said.
“Rugby-wise, I kind of wanted to work towards building a sense of status,” he said.
Ndukwe said winning gold this year added to that feeling.
“So it's going to kind of help in terms of like, bringing in new people in the future in terms of bringing talent in the future,” he said.
“I feel like having that foundation now of, okay, this is a winning team, this is a place for success. People who want to be successful, who want to be in that environment,” Ndukwe said.
