Black History is Canadian History: Honouring a Legacy Beyond February

This February,  as African Heritage Month highlights the theme Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance, historian and educator Dr. Afua Cooper reminds us that celebrating African heritage isn’t just for one month—it’s a vital thread in Canada’s story.

“It seems to me that as a Black community, we’re still in a position where we’re saying, ‘Hey, look at me. Hey, look at me.’ We’re still begging, but we don’t have to beg,” says Cooper, a former professor of Black History at Dalhousie University (2011–2024),  where she founded the first Black studies program in Canada, Black and African Diaspora Studies, which is now offered as a bachelor’s degree.

“We don’t have to beg because we are citizens of Canada; we are worthy people, and our history and heritage should be appreciated not only by us, but by the wider community.”

2025’s theme builds on last year’s focus on resilience, shifting attention to the remarkable, continuous achievements and lasting  impact of the Black community in Nova Scotia.

“Here is a time when we can focus on the heritage and history of Africa and African peoples all around the world,” says Cooper. “Another name for African Heritage Month is Black History Month. As a historian, I tend to focus on history. Still, like I said, it’s a time to really focus and appreciate and disseminate this important heritage and history.”

While resilience acknowledges the strength to overcome adversity, this year’s theme celebrates how that strength has transformed into brilliance—manifested through cultural achievements, community leadership, and a commitment to building a brighter future. This month’s events reflect on past struggles and emphasize how the Black community continues to persevere, thrive, and inspire.

“In every aspect of life that you look at, where you see Black people, you see the excellence of these people and their work, and especially their commitment,” says Cooper, who holds a PhD in Black Canadian History and African Diaspora Studies from the University of Toronto, where she now teaches history and feminist studies.

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