From sessions with Desmond Cole to Afrofusion dance lessons, here are our top picks for Black History Month

Performance:

The Watah Theatre at Crow’s Nest Theatre

Tuesday, Jan. 30 to Wednesday, Feb. 17
Crow’s Nest Theatre 345 Carlaw, Toronto, Ontario M4M 2T1
The radical queer Black feminist Watah Theatre is taking over Crow’s Nest with a double bill by performer d’bi.young anitafrika and writer Najla Nubyanluv. $25-30.

 

 

 

 

 

Jazz Valentines

Thursday, Feb. 1
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Poetry and Jazz. Canada’s poet laureate George Elliott Clarke and 2010 World Poetry Slam Champ Ian Keteku and more perform with some smooth grooves. Free.

The Ebony Tide

Sunday, Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25
Comedy Bar
945 Bloor W
9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Tired of white bread/dude/dad jokes? Check out comedy nights the organizers are calling a “celebration of the magic of melanated comedians.” Hosted by Brandon Ash-Mohammed and Hoodo Hersi. $5.

Discussion:

A conversation with Charlemagne Tha God

Thursday, Feb. 1
5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Casa Loma Student Centre
E building, First Floor
142 Kendal Ave.

A chance to meet and speak to Charlemagne Tha God, co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, The Breakfast Club. He will also sign and discuss his New York Times bestseller Black Privilege: Opportunities Come To Those Who Create It. 

 

Policing Black Lives

Tuesday, Feb. 6
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street

Author Robyn Maynard, civil rights lawyer Anthony Morgan and the Toronto Star columnist Shree Paradkar discuss the complex relationship between police and Canada’s Black communities.

 

 

 

Black History Month presents: Desmond Cole

Wednesday, Feb. 7
Annette Street Library
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
145 Annette Street

Journalist and activist Desmond Cole has been a prolific force for Black and other racialized communities. Come see him deliver a youth-oriented talk. Free.

IFOA Celebrates Black History Month

Wednesday, Feb. 7
7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay East

The International Festival of Authors is hosting authors Simone Dalton, Rinaldo Walcott and Whitney French, who will talk about writing and authorship, opportunities and impediments to success in the book industry. The discussion is hosted by David Bradford. Free.

Before the 6ix: Northern Touch

Monday, Feb. 12
7 p.m. to 8 p.m
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street

What came before Drake? Lots. Join the Rascalz’s Thrust and music producers Mr. Attic and Nick Holder as they speak on the history of Toronto’s hip hop vinyl scene. Free.

 

 

 

Colour Between The Lines: BIPOC Book Group

Wednesday, Feb. 21
Community Action Centre
St. James A Building, Room 165B
200 King St. East

For the month of February, engage in a thought-provoking poetry discussion with BIPOC Book Group about “Bone” by Yrsa Daley-Ward and “Salt” by nayyirah waheed. A limited number of free copies of the book are available at the Community Action Centre.

Movies

Hidden Figures Screenings

Monday, Feb. 5, 2018
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kings Lounge
St. James A Building, Room 150
200 King St. East

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Casa Loma Student Centre
E Building, First Floor
142 Kendal Ave.

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018
10:30am to 12:30pm
Concourse Level stairs
Waterfront campus
51 Dockside Dr.

If you haven’t watched Hidden Figures, now’s the time. The movie tells the inspiring story of three female African-American mathematicians working at NASA during the space race, and is coming to a campus near you. Free.

Toronto Black Film Festival

Wednesday, Feb. 14 to Monday, Feb. 19
Isabel Bader Theatre
93 Charles St W
7:30 p.m.

Want to dig a little deeper than Black Panther? Check out some flicks at the Toronto Black Film Festival, which is opening with The Rape of Recy Taylor, a true story about a Black woman who fiercely confronts white men who sexually assaulted her in Alabama.

GBC private screening: Black Panther at Cineplex

Thursday, Feb. 15
7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Don’t miss the chance to watch the movie Black Panther, and get to know how T’Challa, faced with a powerful old enemy, releases the full power of Black Panther and changes the fate of Wakanda and the entire world. Tickets go on sale on Feb. 5 at Student Association offices. 

Food and fun

Taste of the Caribbean

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Main Lobby, Waterfront
51 Dockside Drive

Wednesday, Feb. 7
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Casa Loma Student Centre
E Building, First Floor
142 Kendal Ave.

Thursday, Feb. 8
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lower Lobby – Student Life space

St. James A Building
200 King. St. East

Thursday, Feb. 22,
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ryerson SHE Building, fifth floor atrium
99 Gerrard St. East

As part of Black History Month, come and help yourselves to a variety of Caribbean foods during the Taste of the Caribbean events at each George Brown campus.

Afrofusion Dance Classes

Saturday, Feb. 6, 13, and 20
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
1 Front E, Toronto, Ontario
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

How are your Afrofusion moves? Learn or brush up on a blend of traditional and contemporary African styles fused with hip hop, dancehall and more with choreographer and dancer Esie Mensah. Free, registration required.

MAWD

Friday, Feb. 23
8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Kings Lounge
St. James A Building, Room 150
200 King St. East
Why stay at home on a Friday night when you can come and party with the best Reggae and Soca DJs in Toronto? Be there. Free for GBC students. $5 for guests.

Black Business Fair

Thursday, Feb. 8
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lower level, student life space
St. James A Building
200 King St. East

An opportunity for students to support Black-owned businesses.

Alternative Valentines (Black Community Love)

Monday, Feb. 12
Community Action Centre
Location to be announced