BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU)
Dear Sage,
Today is Black Excellence Day. It’s an opportunity to recognize and
celebrate the contributions of Black people to our province’s history,
and to recommit ourselves to fighting racism and discrimination in all
forms so we can build a stronger, safer province that works for all
working people.
Please check out this video message we recorded to mark this important
day. [2]
[3]
Activists in B.C.’s Black community created Black Excellence Day
because the stories and voices of Black people have so often been
overlooked, under-played or erased entirely in the “official”
history.
Black people have played key roles in every aspect of Canada’s history
from the founding and development of communities and causes, to
breakthroughs in civil and human rights, to visionary leadership in
political and labour movements. It’s important that these
contributions are not just acknowledged but shared and celebrated.
That’s why our union is proud to support Black Excellence Day and join
the call to make Black history mandatory in B.C.’s school curriculum.
Of course, we can’t stop there – we must also recommit ourselves to
the hard work of fighting against racism, colonialism, discrimination,
inequity, and injustice.
And we are doing that work.
BCGEU members voted to make tackling racism a priority for our union at
last year’s constitutional convention. We’re working on several
initiatives now, and we’re particularly looking forward to launching
new anti-racism training courses for BCGEU members and staff later this
year.
Today, on Black Excellence Day, we encourage everyone to take some time
to learn about Black history in B.C. and to think about how you can
support the broader fight for equity, justice, and true reconciliation
for Black people as well as Indigenous people, and all people of colour.
Happy Black Excellence Day from the BCGEU!
In solidarity,
Stephanie Smith, president
Judy Phipps, executive vice-president
