Black History Month is an important time of the year, but it shouldn't stop once February ends.
That's the message from the executive director of the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society as the municipality celebrates Black History Month.
Samantha Meredith says it's important to celebrate the men and women who have helped build Chatham-Kent, which is home to several black settlements.
"These men and women succeeded and built their own towns," said Meredith. "Buxton and Dresden both had their own settlements. There were black settlements in Chatham as well, but they were a part of a larger city."
As we celebrate Black History Month, Meredith believes that February should not be the only time Black history is taught or highlighted.
"This history needs to be celebrated year-round as well," said Meredith. "A lot of the people and places we learn about, especially within Chatham-Kent, are people who helped build the community. Some of them were black city councillors and doctors."
Those are the people who need to be celebrated, according to Meredith, because they had a significant role in making Chatham-Kent what it is today.
Throughout February, Meredith will be speaking alongside the Kent Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society about Chatham-Kent's black community. That will happen on February 11 at 7 p.m. over Zoom and the link to register is available here.
"During Heritage Week, which starts February 21, we will be releasing an episode of Beyond the Underground Railroad," said Meredith. "This year's episode theme is strategies for confronting anti-black racism."
The Black Historical Society will also be holding a webinar with the Belleville Library on February 16 at 6 p.m. over Zoom. The link to register is available on the Belleville Library's website.
Students in Chatham-Kent will also have a chance to learn more about black history, as presentations are planned throughout the month at local schools.
"I think the youth are the most important to reach out to because they start sparking an interest in stuff very early," said Meredith. "It's important to learn about it because Black history is Canadian history as well."
Aside from school presentations, Meredith said the historical society will also be posting activities online that students can do at home with their families adding that "it's never a bad time to start learning."