Le rôle de Jean Doré dans la création du Mois de l’histoire des noirs

Celebrating diversity : Montreal launches its 25th Black History Month

MICHELLE LALONDE, MONTREAL GAZETTE
More from Michelle Lalonde, Montreal Gazette
Published on : January 19, 2016 | Last Updated : January 19, 2016 7:51 PM EST

Just over 25 years ago, several leaders of Montreal’s black communities approached Montreal’s then-mayor Jean Doré and asked him to help them do something to inspire black youth and give them a sense of belonging to this city.

“The black community was going through some dismal times,” said Clarence Bayne, a longtime black community activist. “Youth were rebelling. The economy was not very good and basically the young people weren’t even listening to their parents … or those who went before who had experience. We had serious problems.”

Community leaders sat down with Doré to discuss “what could we do to lift people’s sense of self and belonging in order to give us the time we need to rebuild a sense of hope,” Bayne said.

To his credit, Doré, who died last June, did take action. Along with black community leaders, Doré’s administration set up a permanent Round Table on Black History Month to ensure that the contributions of black Quebecers to the province’s culture, history and society would be highlighted and celebrated in Montreal every February.

As the program for this year’s month was unveiled Tuesday at City Hall, tributes were paid to Doré and to 12 long-standing organizations that have served Montreal’s black communities well over the years.

Black History Month in Montreal is now a month-long festival of more than 150 cultural and social activities — films, talks, exhibits, plays, a blood drive, and more — that celebrate the diversity, achievement and history of Montreal’s many black communities.

This year’s theme is “Rise and Shine”. The month has two francophone spokespeople — comedian Eddy King and rapper and historian Aly Ndiaye, also known as Webster — and one anglophone spokesperson, jazz singer Ranee Lee.

“Whether they were slaves or free men and women, black people have had a presence in Quebec since the beginnings of New France in the 17th century,” said Webster. “As long as that fact is not commonly known by everyone who calls this province home, we have the duty to continuously make people aware.”

For the program of Montreal’s 25th celebration of Black History Month, go to

moishistoiredesnoirs.com

Pour plus d’informations sur la qualité de la relation entre Jean Doré et la communauté noire, consulter l’hommage à Jean Doré diffusé sur le site du Mois de l’Histoire des Noirs