Black richness on display

Black History Month, beginning Feb. 1, is as good a time as any to enrich one’s knowledge and understanding of the black community. One of the biggest events of the month, bringing together a number of parts of the community, will be the third annual Celebrating the Richness of Black Cultures. While the title itself is pretty self-explanatory, the details include an afternoon of food sampling, story telling, poetry reading and activities for kids. Organized and presented by over 15 organizations, including the Jamaica Association of Montreal, Black Women on the Rise, the Black Community Resource Centre and la Maison d’Haïti, the event’s aim is let the world at large know that there is more to the community than a single, monochromatic identity.

“We want to teach our kids about history,” says Denise Pierre, president of Black Women on the Rise. “There will be lots of different cultures on display, from the Caribbean, the West Indies and Africa. We want to show the different things we can do with food and with drinks.” The food will be donated by various Montreal restaurants.

Africa’s rich oral history will also be passed on by traditional storyteller Suleikha Ali Yusuf, whose folk tales, geared towards children of all ages, will be accompanied by an African drummer.

Celebrating the Richness of Black Cultures takes place on Saturday, February 16 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, between noon and
5 p.m. It’s free. :

—Patrick Lejtenyi