‘Suffering and joy’ invoked at Hamilton Black History Month launch
The dawn of the new year is traditionally when Black History Month in Hamilton is kicked off with the annual John C. Holland Awards, a gala that celebrates Black culture, leadership, and youth achievement in the city.
But in this unusual year, the awards ceremony - named after the iconic Hamilton reverend, who died in 1954 - will be held this summer, with the date still to be set.
This was among the announcements during a virtual launch to Black History Month Sunday, in which a panel of speakers offered historical perspective on the journey for Black Hamiltonians, and words of hope for the future.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger helped begin the launch, urging city residents to learn and appreciate the lived experience of the Black community in Hamilton," including both the suffering and joy."
Gary Warner, a retired McMaster University professor who recently received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the university, said the occasion is a time to renew the call to enrich Black history in local education: Education is all the more critical as we enter an unscripted post-pandemic world."
Hamilton MP Matthew Green, who was elected the first Black city councillor seven years ago, spoke of the darkness that our community has faced for generations," including a KKK march in downtown Hamilton and burning crosses on the Mountain in the early 1930s.
While we celebrate our history, we never gloss over our challenges as a community," he said. And we are here to celebrate our resilience and excellence in spite of them."
Also speaking at the launch was Ashleigh, Abygail, and Alex Montague from the group BLK Owned Hamilton", and 11-year-old Ainara Alleyne, a Stoney Creek girl who started Ainara's Bookshelf," an Instagram account highlighting books with characters who are Black that currently boasts more than 4,300 followers.
The launch also served to highlight upcoming virtual events at Hamilton Public Library to mark Black History Month.
Among these is an online concert on Friday, Feb. 12 from noon-1 p.m. featuring LTtheMonk, who will celebrate the legacy of Hamilton's legendary bluesman Jackie Washington; on Feb. 18, outdoor adventurer and advocate Mario Rigby discusses diversity in outdoor sports in a Q&A from 1-2 p.m.; and on Feb. 26 from 1-2 p.m., an online discussion will be hosted by author Jael Richardson, about her book Gutter Child."
Jon Wells is a Hamilton-based reporter and feature writer for The Spectator. Reach him via email: jwells@thespec.com