Tea & History Speaker Series: Black History Month Celebration with Dr. Rosemary Sadlier
February 13 @ 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Whitby Central Library – Meeting Room 1
History equips us with the tools to analyze current problems and uncover issues that might otherwise remain invisible. It allows us to see the present in a new light and offers critical perspectives on how we can address present and future challenges. Understanding the events that shaped the past is essential to understanding how we got to where we are today. Raising awareness about Black history is crucial to building a truly inclusive history — one that accurately reflects all aspects of our shared past. This presentation will focus on how the formalization of Black History Month came into existence, among the untold stories that every Canadian should know, to help them to appreciate the challenges and diversity that is Canada.
Dr. Rosemary Sadlier is a renowned diversity, inclusion, and equity consultant, social justice advocate, researcher, writer, and international speaker specializing in Black History, anti-racism, and women’s issues. With a remarkable 22-year tenure as President of the Ontario Black History Society, she spearheaded the establishment of February as Black History Month nationwide and secured the recognition of August 1st as Emancipation Day. Sadlier played a pivotal role in the creation of the national day for the Hon. Lincoln Alexander, and has provided expert input to various organizations, including the UN Rapporteur on Race Relations, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Bi-National Study of the Underground Railroad. As an educator, she has contributed to African Canadian curriculum development, national exhibits, and publications, authoring seven books on African Canadian history. Committed to social justice, Sadlier uses the lens of Black History to educate and empower others.