At Hamilton Black History Month launch, eyes turn to future

At the official launch for Black History Month in Hamilton on Friday, eyes turned toward the future.

"We must remember the past, yes," said anti-racism advocate Patricia Wright. "But we must focus on the hope for the future."

That future was embodied in the midday ceremony at city hall by young performers, including Dorian Odusanya, who told the story of Viola Desmondwho married his great-great-grandfather's brother.

His telling of Desmond's refusal to give up her seat in a whites-only section of a Nova Scotia movie theatre was electric.

"Our family is overwhelmed with pride that one of our ancestors a black woman was chosen to be on the $10 bill," Odusanya said. "Every time I hold that bill in my hands and I look at her face, I'll be reminded of my family's history."

"Thanks to her, as a multicultural person, I can freely choose wherever I'd like to sit in the movie theatre," he said. "Ironically, I tend to choose somewhere in the middle."

Odusanya, who lives in Barrie, sat next to Hamilton's first black councillor, Matthew Green.

After he spoke, Green said he looked forward to voting for Odusanya one day.

Several speakers referenced the challenges that black Canadians face.

"Anti-black racism remains a problem in Ontario today," said NDP leader Andrea Horwath.

"The rights we fought for decades ago, we are still fighting for today," Green said.

Master of ceremonies Reuben Abib highlighted the achievement that Green is the first black man elected to Hamilton city council as "something to celebrate."

"But when will that barrier be completely gone?" Abib asked.

As dub poet Klyde Brooks said, "Hamilton, you have more distance to cover."