- This event has passed.
Black History Month Guide 2023
Wednesday, February 1 to Tuesday, February 28
Essex County is rich in Black History. Canadians of African descent have played important roles in the cultural, political, social, and economic progress of our communities. To celebrate our heritage here are some of the Black History Month events happening around our region.
Art from the Amherstburg Freedom Museum
Every Sat & Sun in February. All throughout February, visit the Amherstburg Freedom Museum and check out the rarely seen Art Collection in spirit of Black History Month.
Hole in the Wall @ Amherstburg Freedom Museum
277 King St. Amherstburg
black and indiegnous doll display
Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 4:30PM . Stop by the Gordon House and view an impactful doll display during regular weekday hours.
Gordon House
266 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg
Public Launch of New McDougall Street Corridor Murals
February 23rd, 1PM. With the generous support of FedDev Ontario, the Essex County Black Historical Research Society has commissioned three new murals near the intersection of Erie and Mercer Streets, in the heart of the McDougall Street Corridor, downtown Windsor’s traditional Black neighbourhood. Artists Jermaine Baylis, Ed Irmen, and DERKZ were selected to commemorate the rich Black history of the area. Join the ECBHRS at 400 Erie Street East (alley between Erie and Brodhead, just east of Mercer) for a special event to celebrate the murals. Meet the artists along with family members of some of the historical figures depicted. Refreshments will be served; please RSVP to [email protected]
400 Erie Street East, Windsor
Black Kids in Action Present “How Did We Get Here”
February 24th, 7PM (Doors open 6PM). Join Black Kids in Action Performing Arts Group as they perform “How Did We Get Here?” will perform “Telling Our Story: Black History Month” on their YouTube page, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. Tickets $30.00 until Jan. 31st, $35.00 afterward, or $40.00 at the door. For information: Marcia, 519-566-8791, Malcom, 236-971-5112, or e-mail [email protected]
Capitol Theatre
121 University Ave. W., Windsor
Black Futures: 1st Session of the PFPAD Debrief
February 24th, 10AM-4PM. The Black Futures event is the 1st session of the Permanent Forum For People of African Descent debrief meeting and also our Black History Month kickoff for our 3rd cohort of the Black Diplomats Academy, focusing on not only our history but also how we can further our future. Get an update on what happened during the first session of the PFPAD Help to set the agenda for Canadian youth priorities at the upcoming session in 2023 Learn about how to use the Sustainable Development Goals to advance your youth advocacy projects.
DoubleTree by Hilton Windsor
333 Riverside Dr. W, Windsor
Annual Black History Tea Party
February 26th 2PM-4PM. You’re encouraged to wear your hat or fascinator and join the Windsor West Indian Association for its annual Black History Tea Party which will feature food, music, tea of course, and a presentation by Joan and Treavor Jones, “Reggae: A musical journey from Africa to the World”. Admission by donation. For information, call (519) 945-0213 or e-mail [email protected]
Caribbean Centre
2410 Central Avenue, Windsor
AfroFest at the University of Windsor: Trivia Night
February 28th, 6-8PM. Join students at the University of Windsor Main Campus for a trivia night featuring Black/African/Caribbean history and culture. Follow the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA) website and social media for further details.
CAW Student Centre Commons
Activities and Resources at the Windsor Public Library
Through February. Windsor Public Library offers collections that celebrate Black heritage, encourage diverse and unique voices, and consider the historical significance of Black activists from around the world. Many books, ebooks, audiobooks, and DVDs are available! Also, in honour of Black History Month, WPL is offering several events and activities, geared to adults, children, and youth around the city… from Black history-related story time to film screenings to arts and crafts and much more. Visit the linked website to see what’s happening at various Windsor Public Library branches.
Multiple Windsor Public Library branches.
Visit the “Programs” page at the Windsor Public Library website and click “Calendar of Events” for details.
Going Beyond Religion: The Activism and Community Service of Black Churches in Amherstburg and Colchester, 1826-1955
February, Museum Operating Hours 12-5pm Tue-Fri & 1-5pm Sat & Sun. Temporary exhibit highlighting the Black Churches in Amherstburg and Colchester highlighting the importance of the church as not only a place of refuge for Freedom Seekers, but also a community centre, an educational institution, and a place for Black settlers to organize and discuss their concerns.
Amherstburg Freedom Museum
277 King Street, Amherstburg
The Artists of Colour: Abstracted Realities
On display through February 19th. Participating artists include Edward Milo Johnson, Lois Smith Larkin, Connie Lee-Turner, Dennis K. Smith, Manzella V. Vincent, Lana E. Talbot, Nicole A. Talbot, James Walls, and Susan JohnsonWashington. The voices of Black artists reverberate through history from ancient times. They cannot be ignored. No longer absent from historical records, they continue to speak independently through media of visual art, music, and literature. The process of selective filtering has been practiced in art throughout history and has rendered the Black artist as invisible. The fact that works of notable Black artists of the past have been excluded from mainstream art galleries for centuries highlights a form of abstraction. Our collective voices must be raised in protest. Today the works of many eminent Black artists are recognized as historically significant contributions and have taken their place beside other influential artists. The works in this exhibit are the narratives of The Artists of Colour.
Please visit our website for hours of operation.
Art Windsor Essex
401 Riverside Drive West, Windsor
Manuel Mathieu: World Discovered Under Other Skies
On display through February 19th. The Haitian-born Canadian artist Manuel Mathieu is known for vibrant, colourful paintings that seamlessly merge abstraction with figuration. His work reflects on our intertwined lives, in which the boundaries between the past and present or the personal and political are often blurred. Sharing recollections that depict everyday scenes, Mathieu also blends into his canvases an interrogation of the complex history of his familial homeland, Haiti. By unearthing the traumas of state violence, he addresses issues that remain as urgent today as they have been throughout Haitian history. This exhibition features a collection of new and past works, including paintings, drawings, and ceramics, shedding light on Haiti’s relationship to the world.
Please visit our website for hours of operation.
Art Windsor Essex
401 Riverside Drive West, Windsor
Past Events
wso at the amherstburg Freedeom museum
February 3, 7PM. To begin our Celebration of Black History Month, the River Book Shop has partnered with the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, which will be holding a concert by the Windsor Symphony Orchestra called Celebrating Black Voices in the Nazrey A.M.E. Church. Tickets are on sale at the museum.
Amherstburg Freedom Museum
277 King St. Amherstburg
AfroFest at the University of Windsor: Opening Ceremony
February 3, 12-1PM. Join students at the University of Windsor Main Campus for the opening ceremony of AfroFest 2023 featuring speeches, reflections, and spoken word poetry with Bunmi Africa. Follow the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance website and social media for further details.
CAW Student Centre Commons, University of Windsor
Canada South Blues Society Proudly Presents the Blackburn Brothers
February 3, 7PM. The Canada South Blues Society proudly presents the Blackburn Brothers with special guest Tim Swaddling and a historical presentation by Elise Harding Davis. The Juno-nominated, multiple award winning Blackburn Brothers, Underground Railroad descendants, are considered Toronto’s First Family of Blues. Tickets available online or at Long and McQuade, $30.00 for Canada South Blues Society members, $35.00 for non-members.
Windsor Sportsman’s Club
2401 Dougall Avenue, Windsor
Website
Coalition for Justice Unity Equity Black History Month Event
February 3, 10, 17, & 24, 7PM. All Teen Students can reserve their “FREE” dinner reservation. (Casual fun) E-mail: [email protected] to make a reservation! After finishing up with exams, our students need a break. Free dinner and Visual Arts Show. Pasta, Dinner Roll, Beverages to be served. Pop by, bring your friends, come enjoy. Choose the winning posters! Create your own poster and try to win great prizes! RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE!
Hurricanes Restaurant
3217 Sandwich Street, Windsor
Website
Desmond Cole: a racial injustice talk
February 4, 1pm. Desmond Cole, author of the #1 nationally bestselling book The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power, will deliver a powerful talk about his work & his experience with racial injustice. He will be hosted in the Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s Nazrey A.M.E. Church. Free event.
Amherstburg Freedom Museum
277 King St. Amherstburg
RSVP
Tribute to the Life, Legacy, and Music of Bob Marley
February 4, 9PM-2AM. Wear your Marley gear or come as you are to a tribute to the life, legacy, and music of Bob Marley (February 6, 1945-May 11, 1981), featuring Universal Expression with DJ Staxx and DJ GT Trini, at Diva’s Delite Restaurant. Tickets $20 in advance, slightly higher at the door. For information, call (519) 253-3333 or (519) 890-6188.
Diva’s Delite
110 Chatham St. W., Windsor
Q&A with wayne embry & richard peddie
February 5, 2pm. NBA champion Hall of Fame, 2x Executive of the Year, first African-American GM in the NBA, Wayne Embry will be joined by Richard Peddie, owner of River Bookshop and former president & CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, for a Q&A. In the Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s Nazrey A.M.E. Church. Free event.
Amherstburg Freedom Museum
277 King St. Amherstburg
RSVP
Story time: cari-lynn ristic
February 5, 1pm. Amherstburg Freedom Museum Board Director, Cari-Lynn Ristic, is our guest reader for this week’s Story Time, and will read a selection of titles related to the Black experience.
Amherstburg Freedom Museum
277 King St. Amherstburg
AfroFest at the University of Windsor: Away from Home Panel Discussion
February 7, 4-6PM. Join students at the University of Windsor Main Campus for a panel discussion about living away from home, challenges faced by out-of-town and international students of Black/African/Caribbean descent, the pursuit of independence, and culture shock. Panelists will include Farrah Francis, Doxa Zannou, and Dr. Anushka Plumb. Follow the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA) website and social media for further details.
CAW Student Centre Commons, University of Windsor
Beyond Freedom: Black North American Border-Crossers in the Emancipation Generation
February 7, 7PM. Dept. of History, University of Windsor & the Essex County Black Historical Research Society present “Beyond Freedom – Black North American border crossers in the Emancipation Generation,” with Dr. Adam Arenson, Manhattan College.
Performance Hall, SoCA Armouries
37 University Ave. East, Windsor
disscussion: mcdougall st. corridor
February 8, 6:30pm. University of Windsor Master’s student Willow Key will discuss the history of Windsor’s historic McDougall Street Corridor, which was destroyed by postwar urban redevelopment. In the Hole in the Wall above the bookshop. Free event.
River Bookshop
67 Richmond St. Amherstburg
RSVP
history of the Nazrey A.M.E. Church
February 9, 6:30PM. Amherstburg Freedom Museum Curator, Mary-Katherine Whelan, and Assistant Curator, Dr. Lorene Bridgen-Lennie, will give a presentation about the history of the Nazrey A.M.E. Church, Taylor Log Cabin, and Museum building, and their significance to Underground Railroad History and Black settlement in Canada. In the Hole in the Wall above the bookshop. Free event.
River Bookshop
67 Richmond St. Amherstburg
RSVP
AfroFest at the University of Windsor: Winter Market
February 10, 10AM-2PM. Join students at the University of Windsor Main Campus for a Winter Market featuring a plethora of goods sold by Windsor-Essex Black-owned businesses. Follow the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA) website and social media for further details.
CAW Student Centre Commons, University of Windsor
An evening of oscar peterson
February 11, 5:30PM. View Barry Avrich’s film “Oscar Peterson: Black + White.” Avrich charts Peterson’s rise to prominence and his legendary musical proficiency. Peterson took direct action against racism, applying his musical gifts to the fight for equal rights. One of his most celebrated compositions, “Hymn to Freedom,” was performed at Barack Obama’s inauguration.
After the film, join the Windsor Symphony Orchestra as they perform music from one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time – Oscar Peterson. The WSO will also perform Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1 – her first full-scale orchestral composition and the first symphony by a Black woman to be performed by a major American orchestra.
River Bookshop
67 Richmond St. Amherstburg
Event Website
Windsor West Indian Association’s Annual Black History Brunch
February 12, 1-5PM. Featuring delicious Caribbean cuisine, the Windsor West Indian Association’s annual Black History Brunch is happening 1:00-5:00 p.m. Admission $30 for adults, $15 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased by calling (519) 945-0213 or by e-mail to [email protected] or at the door.
Caribbean Centre
2410 Central Avenue, Windsor
92nd Annual Valentine Tea
February 12, 3PM. The British Methodist Episcopal Church, one of Windsor’s continuing Underground Railroad-era historic Black congregations, presents the 92nd Annual Valentine Tea in a special location, All Saints’ Anglican Church. Guest Speaker, Mrs. Florence Logan, 99 years of age, will share her stories. Brief historical remarks will also be offered by Irene Moore Davis and Nancy Allen. Come and be part of this nearly century-old annual tradition.
All Saints’ Anglican Church Parish Hall
330 City Hall Square West, Windsor
A Blaze of Story – Ancestors, Featuring Mbonisi Zikhali Zomkhonto
February 14, 5PM. : Join poet/storyteller Mbonisi Zikhali Zomkhonto and City of Windsor Multicultural Storyteller Teajai Travis for a Blaze of Story – Ancestors. His spoken word/storytelling name is Zomkhonto which happens to be his bloodline’s totem. Zomkhonto is a trained journalist, youth mentor, qualified Community Services Worker, grassroots community organizer, and mental wellness advocate. He considers himself an afro-empath. Mbonisi is driven to ensure that people find joy in the power of words and storytelling. This is the first in a series of ancestral storytelling events presented by Sacred Story Studio: a multimedia platform dedicated to the promotion, exhibition, and preservation of storytelling. Seating is limited and there are no reservations so arrive early to claim your seat! Pay what you can. Note that there is an open call for submissions: if you would like to be featured at a future event, send a brief synopsis of your ancestral story(ies) to [email protected]
Café Amor & Art
1464 Ottawa Street, Windsor
AfroFest at the University of Windsor: Talent Show
February 14, 6-8PM. Join in the fun at the University of Windsor Main Campus for a talent show featuring student
performers of Black/African/Caribbean descent. Follow the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance
(UWSA) website and social media for further details.
CAW Student Centre Commons
University of Windsor
AfroFest at the University of Windsor: Smart Money Tribe
February 15, 4-6. Join in an important conversation about money management and Black wealth building.
Panelists will include Dr. Kemi Anazodo, Lydia Ughulu, and Arjei Franklin. Follow the University of Windsor
Students’ Alliance (UWSA) website and social media for further details.
CAW Student Centre Commons
University of Windsor
Creating Global Solidarity Through the Making of an Open Educational Resource on Anti-Black Racism
February 16, 2PM. Join us virtually as we welcome Dr. Nadia Prendergast, Samin Barakati, Seyedeh-Samin Barakati, Fabliha Awal, Caitlin Cosgrove, and Adedayo Adegbola who will present “Creating Global Solidarity Through the Making of an Open Educational Resource on Anti-Black Racism.” They will discuss a resource they created that focuses on anti-Black racism for the nursing professional.
New McDougall Street Corridor Black History Digital Archive
February 16, 7PM. Join the Essex County Black Historical Research Society for our February meeting on Zoom. Dr. Heidi LM Jacobs and lead graduate student researcher Willow Key will provide an overview of the new We Were Here: Documenting Windsor’s McDougall Street Corridor digital archive hosted by Leddy Library… a remarkable collection of images, essays, maps, excerpts of interviews with McDougall Street Corridor residents and descendants, and more. Please register in advance for this meeting.
A Snapshot of the History of the Windsor-Essex County Black Community
Februrary 18, 2-4PM. Unifor Local 444 Black Indigenous Workers of Colour present their 2023 Black History Month Event, “A Snapshot of the History of the Windsor-Essex County Black Community,” featuring various entertainment and a historical presentation by Irene Moore Davis, followed by dinner. Tickets are $10.
Unifor Local 200-444
1855 Turner Road, Windsor
SWOBEN Black Business Development Program Orientation
Februrary 19, 3-5PM. Join Empowerment Squared for an informative & interactive SWOBEN Orientation Session & Black Excellence Expo. This event is designed to get you familiar with all the ways you can connect with SWOBEN and its partners. Whether you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey or looking to grow your existing business, our network provides resources, support, and opportunities to help you succeed. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your business to the next level & have a great time while doing it!
Aura Lounge
1255 Ottawa St., Windsor
