Racism still alive and unwell

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It said, “Chatham-Kent is a conservative community and we don’t care what you think.”

The terms “Uncle Tom” and “blackbirding” are both slurs against the Black community. An “Uncle Tom” refers to a Black caricature of a person who caters to whites, while “blackbirding” involves coercing people through deception or kidnapping into slavery.

“So don’t tell me we don’t have a long way yet to go, because we do,” Cook said, noting people don’t know terms have racial undertones until they’re made aware.

However, Cook said he’s heartened by the progress he’s seen, pointing out the swift action taken by the Intercounty Baseball League team’s management.

“We really are impressed with how quickly and decisively the executive made the name change and we’re going to work with them to hopefully bring about a name that’s going to be welcoming and all-encompassing to the community,” Cook explained.

Cook said the negative response on social media came as no surprise.

“I’m not going to say I was surprised,” he said. “I was disappointed in how very little support there was for hearing the opinion of the Black community as to why this was the wrong choice.”

But on the upside, Cook said change is possible, citing the larger than normal crowd that turned out to raise the flag.

“Seeing the support that I see in this circle here – I know that we can bring about the change that needs to come,” Cook stressed. “Your support means a lot to us.”

Cook said Chatham-Kent’s place in Black history is unparalled in Canada, noting the City of Chatham, the Elgin settlement at Buxton and the Dawn settlement near Dresden were places of refuge for fugitive slaves.

“Throughout the entirety of Canada, you’re not going to find the same kind of Black representation you’re going to find here in Chatham-Kent,” Cook said. “So, let’s be proud of that and shine a light on that and let the world know what we have got.” Cook’s comments were echoed by Mayor Darrin Canniff.

Voice February is Black History month in Canada and members of the community came together at the Chatham Civic Feb. 1 to raise a new flag commemorating the event. Sharing the duties were Mayor Darrin Canniff; Buxton National Historic Site & Museum curator Shannon Prince; South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci; Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew; Jackie Bernard and Whitney Belovicz of the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History; Samantha Meredith, executive director of the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum; Steven Cook, curator of the Henson Museum; and Michelle Robbins, assistant curator at the Buxton site. The month is filled with numerous activities throughout Chatham-Kent at all three Black history sites.

“Chatham-Kent was a historic destination of refuge for those fleeing slavery and oppression,” the mayor said. “Our communities are founded on hope.”

Making people aware of C-K’s Black history is the

Pam Wright/The goal, Canniff said. “Education is powerful. We need more education, but the good news in this is that the vast majority of people in Chatham-Kent are very supportive and very much on the good side of things.” Both officials hope local residents will celebrate Black history in this month and throughout the year.