Black History Month celebrations begin in Hamilton

Celebrations launched at Hamilton City Hall, to commemorate the start of Black History Month with the unveiling of a new honouree in a special initiative co-organized by Black-led organizations.

Political leaders, community members and advocates took to the podium to reflect on the trials and triumphs of the past and present.

The rally cry of civil rights anthem: “lift every voice and sing,” rang through the council chambers at Hamilton City Hall to kick off a month-long celebration of the city’s vibrant Black community.

Gary Warner, a retired professor at McMaster University and the founding co-chair of the Theme School on International Justice and Human Rights said, “it’s important that people know that there is a continuous history that didn’t begin with the transatlantic slave trade.”

Students from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board paid tribute to the bravery of pioneers who led the way.

Warner has worked with the Hamilton-Wentworth School Board on the Race Relations Inservice Program Development Committee and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Review Panel.

“Our city has been graced by extraordinary Black leaders who have carved paths and left legacies that echo through these walls.” said Naomi Ogunjobi a grade 12 student at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.

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At the event, audiences listened to speeches recognizing the contributions of Black communities.

Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath said “Black history is our history, it’s our history” and performances honouring hope and resilience.

The unveiling of the 17th Black History Month honouree. Every year, Hamilton’s Black-led organizations, join together to commemorate the work of Hamilton heroes who have died.

The new placard will stand next to those honouring other Black trailblazers for the next month. Dora Anie is the founder and president of Schools of Dreams, a Hamilton-based charity that builds safe and sustainable learning environments for children in Ghana.

Sam Opoku from the Ghana Association said, “They loved her whenever they saw her in the schools, knowing very well that she has put them in a very different state of affairs.”

Following Anie’s death in 2019, her daughters have kept her work alive taking on different roles at Schools of Dreams.

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Barbara Anie, the daughter of Dora Anie and School of Dreams president said “the fact that we were tapped on our shoulder to celebrate her, it’s such a testament that her work still lives on and people are still thinking about the impact she left on the city.”

Anne-Marie Anie is an educator at Schools of Dreams “we work with the school in Ghana, with the school system there, to help to decide which schools are going to be selected for the next project.”

Dora Adobea, one of Dora Anie’s daughters said, “having been raised by such a powerful woman, it inspires me to be powerful in my own way.”

The images and biographies of the 17 Black Hamiltonians honoured will be displayed across this city, including in public libraries and at city hall.

While today might be the official start of Black History Month, many of the speakers urged us all to remember the importance of recognizing Black excellence and sacrifice every day of the year.