Black History Month is underway and Stratford Public Library is devoted to doing their part, focusing on providing resources.
Shauna Costache, public services supervisor at the city library, told StratfordToday the library is focused on highlighting the Black Lives Matter Syllabus, a list of about 50 items. It includes items from the library’s collection, long form journalism, and the history of the movement.
“It’s to help build understanding,” Costache said. “Especially right now as people are really hurting over the video of Tyre Nichols … It’s a way for people to build understanding across that.”
This Black History Month began with the funeral of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, who had a fatal interaction with the police in Memphis, Tennessee. Released footage of the encounter sent shockwaves across the world.
Black History Month in Canada began in the late-70s, with a petition from the Ontario Black History Society. In 1995 the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, a month where all Canadians celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians who have shaped the country.
This year the theme of Canadian Black History Month is 'Ours to Tell.' According to the government of Canada's website, this theme "represents both an opportunity to engage in open dialogue and a commitment to learning more about the stories Black communities in Canada have to tell about their histories, successes, sacrifices and triumphs."
Aside from the Black Lives Matter Syllabus, the library also curated a Black Joy list, showcasing the many different paths, joys, and inspirations that Black stories can be.
Black Resistance, the theme of Black History Month in the United States, is also being provided. That collection includes resources that speak to Black resistance across time and countries.
The resources are available on the library’s website and some are available on the City of Stratford’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website. Costache said that the library is very excited to have contributed their resources to the City’s list.
There is also a free February Beanstack challenge, and an online reading challenge, with some Black History Month material available.
As a public library, Costache says that they are proud to serve the whole community of Stratford, but service is more than just talking about service.
“That means ensuring that our collections and our curation and our lists reflect the entire community so that everybody who uses this (space) is able to find themselves here within our walls,” Costache said. “We want to highlight these resources all year long, but we really want to make sure that they're visible for people in the month of February, when people are actively looking for them and actively wanting to have those conversations.”
For more about Black History Month in Canada, click here.
