Humber rings in Black History Month with rhythmic-booming celebration

Feb 1, 2023 | Headlines, News

Humber on Wednesday held opening ceremonies for Black History Month as it begins a full month of activities centered around the Black community and experience.

The opening ceremonies and upcoming events were planned by the Black Heritage 365 Committee, which is comprised of representatives from all different parts of the college, along with BSSE (Black Student Support and Engagement).

For students, there was guest speakers, a drumming performance by Toronto-based drumming group Alpha Rhythm Roots and Jamaican patties and other cuisine provided by BSSE.

Jamaican patties on sale in the LRC Concourse provided by BSSE.

Jamaican patties on sale in the LRC Concourse provided by BSSE. Photo credit: Jacob Tye

“What these events do is they allow expression of that particular community,” said Errol Cyrus, who is project manager for Humber’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion taskforce and who is a member of the Black African Employee Resource Group.

“Our presence here as the Black African ERG gives us the opportunity to tell more black students that exist and encourage them to become a member of a safe space to be yourself,” said Cyrus.

Toronto-based drumming group Alpha Rhythm Roots puts on performance for Humber students and faculty attending the event.

Toronto-based drumming group Alpha Rhythm Roots puts on performance for Humber students and faculty attending the event. Photo credit: Jacob Tye

The Black African ERG bring together black people into a voluntary, employee-led group that foster a diverse and inclusive workplace aligned with team and organizational missions, goals, and objectives.

Kim Daniels, manager of Equity & Student Life at Humber College and organizer of the event, spoke to the importance of the event for all Humber students and the theme of the event being Black Joy.

“We really wanted to celebrate the joy that goes into being black and everyone got to offer up their ideas and we settled on that we really wanted it to be a community piece, where we can celebrate with food and conversation and music and sharing of resources and really being together as a collective,” she told Humber News.

Daniels said she was really happy that the celebration got to happen and was happy with the huge turnout.

“It’s important for the community to gather and celebrate, while I encourage people to celebrate black heritage 365 days of the year, I think its nice on February 1st to kick off the month with a celebration,” she said.

‘You need to pay attention’

For ten years before coming to Humber, Cyrus worked with an organization that helped with mental and physical disabilities and credits that work to his greater involvement in advocacy.

“It helped me get very ingrained in advocacy and understand how being ‘other’ can be so challenging and you need to pay attention to equity deserving people of society,” he said.

Cyrus said his passion for his field was ignited at a young age with parents who always tried to share the successful black people at the time despite racism.

“I’ve always been interested in advocacy and growing up in a household with a mother and father and certainly a dad who spoke about one’s blackness and importance and proud of sharing the success of black people of the times back then and certainly the roar of what was happening in America at the time,” he said.

Daniels said she encourages students of all ethnicities to join in on the events planned throughout the month and take action with educating on Black heritage and not be another slacktivist.

“It’s important for us to learn about each other and be able to celebrate each other and so participating in Black History Month is a way to really show solidarity to the Black community,” she said.