Black History Month

By Maryam Farag

Northstar Cultural Community Centre hosted a community open house to celebrate local black history at the Windsor Public Library’s Central branch on Feb. 3.

In 2013, Northstar Cultural Community Centre received $63,000 in funding from Ontario Trillium Foundation. The OTF provides funding for organizations to support community growth.

The grant was used to hire a consultant to develop a strategic plan with a set of goals for the next four years. This plan aims to help Northstar continue telling the story of people of African descent through new books and videos.

Author Irene Moore Davis and publisher Dan Wells of Biblioasis were on hand to discuss the chosen book, The Long Road Continues, which seeks to inspire Windsor-Essex’s black community about its own history.

“The book is intended to be as inclusive and comprehensive as possible, so we know that there are individuals who have great photos and family history and things of that nature that they might like to share,” said Irene Moore Davis, author of The Long Road Continues.

The Long Road Continues recounts the stories of the Caribbean population and people who have emigrated from Africa.

Community members also brought old photos to be added to Northstar’s digital archive, discuss their families’ history and took a tour of the local history room.

Almost 100 people attended this event. Food and drinks were provided.

“This is black history month, we want people to come and learn about black history, talk to each other and share stories,” said Nancy Allen, organizer of the event.

“We are also setting up oral history interviews so people who have great stories to tell can sit down and be interviewed as part of the process,” said Davis.

On Nov. 28, 2017, a grant recognition ceremony was held at the Windsor Public Library. Guests included project partners from: Northstar Cultural Community Centre, Biblioasis Publishers, Essex County Black Historical Research Society, Amherstburg Freedom Museum and Windsor Centre for Film, Media and Creative Arts – Film Camp for Kids.

Each partner explained their role in facilitating the oral history interviews, filming and editing that will be conducted by trained volunteers.