Did you know Toronto was the first Canadian municipality to officially proclaim February as Black History Month in 1979?
February tends to fly by, which can make corporate efforts to chime in and support Black History Month tough if you haven’t been planning and preparing. The good news is that it happens every year, so the opportunity to be better remains.
If your hesitation to jump in has been, in part, because you weren’t sure how, we’ve got you covered. Keep these key ideas (along with current examples of organizations who are doing it right) in mind, and they can offer you guardrails for supporting not only Black voices but those in the city’s other diverse communities including Indigenous History month, Pride, Latin History month and more.
Be a partner
You don’t have to take the lead on Black History month celebrations, you can instead team up with community members to make magic happen. The Art Gallery of Ontario is doing exactly that with their “The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century. The Gallery hosts workshops, family events and youth events (including a dance battle hosted by the TogetherButDifferent Crew) throughout the month. Similarly, organizations like The Trending Table are helping Black and BIPOC-owned small businesses showcase their wares at malls like Scarborough Town Centre and Square One. By combining their skills, they’ll be offering Black entrepreneurs access to a new audience of shoppers.
Your Turn: Who are the Black resources in your community and what space/opportunity might you offer to show your support?
Find connections and opportunities for conversations
You don’t have to be a historically Black business to connect to Black History. Toronto History Museums are proof that showcasing Black History is as easy as finding connections and providing space for conversations to happen. At Colborne Lodge Museum you can join poet Desiree Mckenzie in a creative session around racism, colonialism Indigenous Land and gender inequities through a Black History Month lens. Or head to the Spadina Museum to join the conversation with artist Natalie Wood, whose pieces are the newest additions to the Letters to my Ancestors series there.
Your Turn: Is there a connection between your business’s purpose and the Black community? Can you make space for a new audience to visit? Is there an opportunity to share new insights with your regulars?
Think long-term
This year marks the 30th anniversary of KUUMBA—Toronto’s largest and longest-running Black Futures Month festival at Harbourfront Centre. Throughout the year Kuumba 365 hosts dance, music, film, literary, and speaking events, and each February its Black Futures Month festival offers a place for audiences to gather to celebrate “joyful expression” of Black creators. Harbourfront Centre’s consistency makes it easy for audiences to know to plan for and come out to their events. At this point, the celebration is simply a natural part of the centre’s programming. Equally important, they don’t treat the community as a monolith, offering programming that also speaks to the intersectionality of the Black experience in Toronto.
Your Turn: Consider expanding the way you think about Black History Month. Why not use the month as an annual opportunity to expand the way you operate your business year-round.
What is your core business? Who are the Black voices in your community who align with that? And how can you collaborate without sacrificing your authenticity?
Be authentic
At the Stackt Market in Toronto visitors expect to find community programming and opportunities to sip and nibble. Makes sense then, that this Black History Month the Black Grapes self-guided, walk around wine-tasting event in celebration of the Black winemaking community is back. (The wines are curated by sommelier Beverly Crandon and your $37.50 ticket gives you a chance to sample.) The Market is also the location for the Born to Create exhibits curated by Toronto artist Chika Oh. Visitors to the Market can view exhibits that showcase “original paintings, fashion installations, live performances, and interactive events.”
Your Turn: What is your core business? Who are the Black voices in your community who align with that? And how can you collaborate without sacrificing your authenticity?
Stand as an ally
Sometimes the best way you can help is by supporting initiatives that are already in progress. Since 2015, the Black Diamond Ball has offered an opportunity for the Black community to get together and celebrate Black excellence. Why not purchase tickets to attend or sponsor a table? And there are other opportunities as well. Reach out to Black community youth support groups and offer your allyship—whether to help with the costs for social programming or sponsorship of a youth grant or scholarship. Or opt to spend your business dollars in support of Black businesses (where Black History happens every month). By choosing to book a room or an event at the rooftop of Ode Toronto for example, a Black-owned hotel that opened in 2022, you’re supporting without sacrifice.
Your turn: Take a look around your community to see where your dollars, manpower or skills can support works in progress. What can you change in your choices for venues or charitable support that might benefit the Black community?
