“Being Black in Canada offers a window into the struggles while celebrating the culture and achievements of Black communities.”
CBC has launched an expanded ‘Being Black in Canada’ website featuring the stories and experiences of Black Canadians. Highlighting narratives that matter to Black communities—from individual successes to historical content—the site showcases profiles, opinion pieces, video, audio and more content across all areas of CBC.
CBC has been producing and publishing content under the Being Black in Canada project since 2013, with an online iteration launching in 2018. Initially conceived as a Black History Month program for CBC News Network, the program featured interviews with notable Black Canadians and focused on topics like Canadian Black history and culture, racism, parenthood, and activism.
Stories on the expanded site include a three-part series exploring the history of Black gospel music in Canada, a feature on how Ottawa-based poet MayaSpoken “learned to embrace her inner angry Black woman,” and a first-person essay from basketball player Guillaume Payen Boucard.
“I am excited by the opportunity of this website, which will undoubtedly play an important role in helping us move forward. Being Black in Canada offers a window into the struggles while celebrating the culture and achievements of Black communities,” said Barbara Williams, Executive Vice-President of CBC.
The expanded Being Black in Canada website launches alongside a one-hour CBC original special of the same name, featuring news, current affairs and arts content hosted by Asha Tomlinson, available now on CBC Gem. The hour-long special addresses the renewed fight against anti-Black racism and features Black Lives Matter activists as well as Black community members who are pushing for change. The special also includes new interviews with the cast and creative team of CBC original miniseries The Book of Negroes.
In addition, the new Black Stories Collection, showcasing Black creators and stories from Canada and around the world, is now available to view on the free CBC Gem streaming service.