Black History month in Canada designated by the Canadian Government to be February has begun and brought with it the urgent need to understand and explore the history and legacy of African people in the West. The United States of America has, again witnessed the brutal slaying of an unarmed, innocent Black American in Memphis, Tennessee. Tyre Nichols was beaten to death in the eyes of the world that saw the taped eyewitness recording. People around the world have been marching in the streets demanding justice and an end to what appears to be a systematic program of suppression. But the real suppression begins with the minds of people who are taught that other races are inferior or dangerous. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month in America was quoted to have said:

“If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” Muslims should realize that the same formula applies to Palestine, Bosnia, Kashmir and a host of Muslim lands. Therefore, it is critical for us to understand what happened to Enslaved Africans and the Indigenous peoples in the Americas.

Black History month is one of the best times to study and share information with each other. Let us take advantage of this opportunity to reflect on what is happening around us and use that knowledge to bring about peace, justice and security for all people.

Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick
Historian, Lecturer, Consultant