Andrea Horwath marks Black History Month

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath issued the following statement marking the first day of Black History Month:

“Today marks the beginning of Black History Month in Ontario. Throughout the month, Ontarians will come together and celebrate the important role the Black community has played in the history of our province and our country.

We learn about and celebrate black heroes – like anti-slavery pioneer Mary Ann Shadd Cary, and civil rights leader Leonard Braithwaite. We celebrate trailblazers like Zanana Akande, the NDP MPP who was the first black woman to become a cabinet minister in Canada. We celebrate contemporary cultural icons like Dionne Brand.

Black Canadians have led the fight for human rights and respect, and the black community has achieved so much, despite generations of discrimination. 

This Black History Month, we’ll learn and we’ll celebrate – but let’s also renew our commitment to keep working to tackle the anti-Black racism that remains a reality in Ontario today.”