Guelph Black Heritage Society celebrates Black Heritage Month

More than 25 years, Canadians have celebrated Black History Month in February following introduced by Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to Parliament.

February 2021 has been famous as Black Heritage Month at the Guelph Black Heritage Society GBHS. It is a month to celebrate contribution Black historical figures have made society celebrating the past always been focal point of Black History Month.

Francis said ” During Black Heritage Month the GBHS showcases they many ways Black people contribute to the local community”.

Official states in a press release “This month commemorates present and past accomplishments within the Black community and sets sights on a bright future.”

The GBHS is celebrating Black Heritage Month with a concert, Heritage Hall open house booths at the Guelph Farmer Market and Black Vacation Week.

Heart and Soul Campaign

Proceeds from all GBHS Black Heritage Month events will move towards the Heritage Hall Heart and Soul Campaign. GBHS is a registered charity and tax receipts will be issued for donations more than $25.

The campaign is an effort to expand GBHS programming and resources.

Lantern Ale

The Royal City Brewing Company at 199 Victoria Rd. S. Guelph is serving annual Lantern Ale.Portion of Lantern Ale proceeds are donated to GBHS.

Lantern before to and during the American Civil Ware were used as beacons by safe houses along underground railroad. A network of people assist people escape to freedom and Queens Bush settlement in Wellington County.

A portion of Lantern Ale proceeds are donated to GBHS.

Guelph Farmer’s Market

On Feb. 3 and 17 GBHS will have a booth at the Guelph Farmer Market from 8am to 1pm. People can visit the booth to learn more GBHS and purchase swag including the GBHS Lantern Brew from Lost Aviator Coffee, Cultural calendars, mugs, tea and driving tour maps of Wellington County.

Black Vacation Week

GBHS will observe Black Vacation Week from Feb. 26 to 29.It is launched by Kween at Kween Company in efforts to create time and space fro Black individuals during Black Heritage Month.

Black Vacation Week encourage Black communities to take time for themselves to travel, eat, heal, spend time with one another.

This initiative allows for us to strive for braver space for our people during this month.

Heritage Hall Open House

On Feb, 24 GBHS is hosting a Heritage Hall Open House from 1 -3 pm. This free event is open to public and offer a chance to learn information about GMHS has been up to including events, programming and tours.

Celebrating Black music

GBHS is hosting a concert at Royal City Church on Feb, 23. Doors open at 7 and the show begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets in advance are $25 for adults and $15 for students

The concert features, hip hop artist J One , Shane Phillips, Singer Julian Taylor, JJ Gallo.

Starbucks starts cup collection for Black History Month

Starbucks has released new designs in celebration of black history month. Starbucks is celebrating Black History Month with its a collection of cups from Artist Damon Brown.

Brown’s work is the coffee chain Artists collaboration series with celebrates the unique stories of artists from the world. Versatile artists have use their creativity to amplify even like Pride Month this year marks the first designs for the Black community.

The latest cups and tumblers will be available across Starbucks locations in the Canada and U.S.starting Jan.30. The coffee giant continues to help Black organization like African American Mayors Association and NAACP.

Brown first worked on a Starbucks location in Seattle. His work was featured in poster commemorating the coffee shops 50th anniversary, bringing back the siren logo. This design will give joy to customers.

Brown added ” An international play on the classic color palette of red, green and black you may see in Black art or during Black History Month to make it purposeful.

“My goal for this collection was for it not to feel that its one month only but taking it farther and give you something more artistic that can be enjoyed and celebrated beyond February when it should be every day for us”.

Starbucks cups are always a good thing thanks to its Artists Collaboration Series the Coffee chain has been putting out some truly unique drinkware that collectors are going to desire to get their hands on.

Starbucks has used the series to highlight pride month artists from the Latin American Community and Alaskan natives. Now as we move into Black History Month Starbucks is turning its attention toward raising Black voices.

The Starbucks collection will feature 3 various pieces of drinkware, labeled with Brown brand name Creative Lou. The three cups feature a color scheme of pale blues, greens with cream, designs of moving Black figures and abstract shapes.

An international play on classic color palette of green, black and red that you may see represented in Black art or during Black History Month.Two of three cups will be 24 ounce cold cups with other being a 16 ounce stainless steel tumbler. The collection will be available for sales starting Jan 30 at participating Starbucks in the Canada and U.S.

50 Must Read New Books by Black Authors

It is only a days until Black History Month. There is a list of 100 Essential New Works of Fiction by Black Authors to assist build your TBR for February. This list is only fiction including short stories and novels. This is a superb start to adding more Black authors into your reading.

These books range from this year to 10 years before and include modern classic as well less famous titles. They are separated by genre.

Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Chaing Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei Brenyah

Short Story Collections

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei Brenyah

Horror

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark

Romance

Rebel by Beverly Jenkins

Stars in Your Eyes by Kachen Callendar

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

You Made a Fool of Death with with Your Beauty By Akwaeke Emezi

Historical Fiction

The Heaven and Earth Gorcery Store by James McBride

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whiteland