THE PARENTING BIZ

At the riverfront, the Family Fuse team from left are: Makeda Cole, Danielle Parent, Yohance Henry, Sabrina Wright, Christie Nelson, Clarese Carter, Salem Berhane, Josh Canty, Carmen Carter, and Latosha Cole. The photo was used for their 2021 Unity In Community campaign aimed at creating a greater sense of unity through allies and community partners to build relationships, empower, educate and support those interested in breaking down barriers to success, which are experienced by some members of the Black community. Photo courtesy of Olivia whereby we commemorate the past to understand, reflect and learn about the difficulties faced by Black people, which gives us the opportunity to celebrate all the achievements, discoveries and inventions accomplished by Black people,” says Oluwatosin Akinbinu, BKIA Executive Director. She adds, “February is a month to highlight those success stores that have made an impact and shaped the world. It’s also important to celebrate Black History Month because of how it promotes and celebrates diversity, which brings awareness to the idea that we are all diverse and we all contribute to something bigger than us.”

In honour of this special month, BKIA is working on a production titled, How Did We Get Here?

“We pick up our stories from our journey, our experiences and our struggles,” Akinbinu explains. “We relate them to the histories of the past and try to correlate them with what is happening in the present. It’s a stage production that tells how the youth struggle to understand; despite the many achievements of Black people their voices are still not heard. They are real life stories.”

Akinbinu goes on to tell Biz X they want everyone to come and see the production because many youth do not have a voice outside of it.

“The youth never get a chance to speak,” she believes. “They are never seen or heard and their voices are stolen because they are tagged as trouble. We want to encourage the community to come and hear from them as they express what life has been like for them.”

The production of How Did We Get Here will be performed at the Capitol Theatre on February 24 at 7 p.m. For $35 tickets you can email: bkiayouths2019@gmail.com or send a message through their website: BKIA.ca. Tickets are $40 at the door.

A Blast From The Past At The Amherstburg Freedom Museum

Founded by Betty Simpson and Melvin “Mac” Simpson in 1975 to promote the rich heritage of African Canadians, the Amherstburg Freedom Museum (previously known as the North American Black Historical Museum until 2015) is a community-based, non-profit museum located at 277 King Street in Amherstburg.

It tells the story of African-Canadians’ history and contributions by presenting artifacts that educate and inspire.

“The location of the museum is key,” notes Mary-Katherine Whelan, Curator and Administrator of the Amherstburg Freedom Museum (AFM). “Amherstburg meant freedom, as the Canadian destination for many freedom seekers escaping slavery in the United States.”

Also included in the museum complex are the Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church — a national historic site and stop on the Underground Railroad, and the Taylor Log Cabin — home of George Taylor, a formerly enslaved man and his family.

The AFM offers tours through their historic buildings, as well as programs to learn about this rich and diverse history.

In addition to sharing Amherstburg’s stories of the Underground Railroad, and the compassion and solidarity it took to make this network possible, the museum collects, protects, interprets, researches, educates about and exhibits a collection of artifacts of historical and cultural value.

These are on display in their permanent gallery in order to illustrate the journey

Freedom Seekers made from enslavement to freedom in Canada, as well as the legacy of those descendants who built their lives in the region.

“It’s important to recognize Canada’s rich Black history, not just during February, but all year round,” says Whelan. “Last year, the national Black History Month theme was ‘February and Forever: Celebrating Black History Today and Every Day’. We echo that theme and encourage everyone to celebrate this significant history all year round because Black history does not just happen during the month of February; it is every day and in all aspects of Canada’s history.”

AFM is excited to partner with the River