Black History Month

Speaker Series

In honour of Black History Month, our speaker on February 13 is Silvia Mangue Alene, President of the BC Black History Awareness Society. Since Silvia lives in Victoria, her presentation will be via Zoom during our meeting at the MacMillan Arts Centre in Parksville.

In 1858, nearly 800 Blacks left San Francisco to seek a chance of equality and a new life in Victoria. Although the new immigrants still faced racism and discrimination in their new home, they played an important role in the development of the colony. As Silvia told the Times Colonist last year, ““Black history runs narrow but deep in this province and it is a legacy that we are very proud of. Education is important to keep the history alive.”

Silvia’s presentation will focus on the Black women pioneers and their contributions to Vancouver Island.