VIEWPOINTS Black History Month

Well folks we ’ ve moved turned the page to February which means it’s Black History Month, and there’s many different ways to take part and learn more about the importance of this observance One is to check out local events, such as the Library’s screening of Summer of Soul on Thursday, February 2 (more information in the calendar on Page 9)

While you ’ re there you might find a good book on the topic too My current read is A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley It paints a quasi-history of the United States where an extra state in the “East South Central region of the Deep South” is created following the Civil War Around 100 years later, a mass exodus of the state’s entire Black population takes place (for reasons I take it will be explained in the second half of the book) It’s been an engaging read so far, a story told from many different points of view, and impressively was written by Kelley when he was just in his early 20s I highly recommend giving it a go!

Whatever mode you choose - in-person, printed word, on-screen (another good example of this, with a Bowen connection, can be found on Page 6) - it’s important to devote some time, this month and every month, to seeing what we can do to advocate for racial equality Great strides have been made but injustices continue in Canada, the United States, and around the world, and it’s crucial to know how we can contribute to one day eradicating these in all forms

Alex Kurial, Editor

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