Orientalism & Popular Culture: Discussing the Repercussions of Female Discourse

SHOWCASE:

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Acknowledging the triumphs of African American men and women is vital to rewriting history and erasing colonialist views that have plagued them for years. It is important to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of Black individuals as they have played integral roles to the succession of society.

The Importance of Black History

Victoria Dadzie

Secretary, Erindale College African Students’ Association (ECASA)

It is often said that one’s vision of their future is distorted without adequate knowledge of where they are coming from. This is true in the case of Black History. In celebrating Black History, we learn to appreciate our position in today’s society. The knowledge of our previously suppressed, oppressed and disrespected state gives us a sense of our value today and helps us not to take for granted the freedom and opportunities we have in today’s world. In a sense, it forces us to maximize these opportunities, to do our very best, to strive for excellence, and to achieve our maximum possible potential knowing that others have risked and suffered so much for us to be blessed with these opportunities and that it would be sheer waste for their efforts to go unaccounted for.

Looking back at our past does generate appreciation for our position of greater equality today but that is not to say that inequality against us as Blacks and us as women ceases to exist. It is generally discouraging to look around society even today and notice that most successful women do not look like ourselves; but in celebrating Black History, hope is restored – there is an innate reassurance in studying Black women of the past that overcame the odds and made it regardless of their “inferior”position. We are given hope in knowing that since these women have made it, we too can make it also.

Clubs like CC and ECASA exist not only to provide a familiar ground for Caribbean and Africans respectively to interact and socialize with people of a similar origin but also to take on responsibility in educating Black students of their value and potential through various events. Large establishments like UTM generally do not contain a lot of Black students. Thus, the few that are here need a place to fit in, a place where they are ensured that they matter, and where they can be made well aware of their essence. These clubs exist as an answer to such issues. Members of CC and ECASA find a home in socializing and networking with people like themselves and in doing so, often find themselves.