CBC Toronto Explores the Black Experience

All this month, CBC Toronto explores “The Black Experience” in the GTA – the challenges, the contributions and the successes of this diverse community.  

Stay with us throughout the month for highlights of great events right across the city, and for in-depth stories on TV, radio and online.

LATEST HIGHLIGHTS

Fathering Change: Strengthening The Role of Black Fathers
A Special Series on Metro Morning
All Week, beginning Monday, February 9

Many children in African-Canadian homes grow up without fathers. Some fathers walk out on their children, others all but give up, settling for infrequent visits. On "Fathering Change", we hear from black fathers who want a bigger role in their children's lives.

LISTEN: Matt Galloway spoke with the CBC's Mary Wiens.

Metro Morning7:59Fathering Change

Many children in African-Canadian homes grow up without fathers. Some fathers walk out on their children, others all but give up, settling for infrequent visits. But there is a new trend.

LISTEN: Mary Wiens tells the story of photographer Zun Lee, and the black men who stepped up for him.

LISTEN: Excerpts from the Fathering Panel. Matt Galloway spoke with Kike Ojo, senior program analyst with the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, Lance McCready, co-author of a report, "Gathering Our Voices" about the experiences of black fathers in Toronto, Vidoll Regisford, he is a psycho-therapist and clinical consultant for Ujima House, and witth Zakiyah Tefari, he runs a parenting program at Ujima House.

The 2015 Then & Now series spans multiple disciplines: theatre, concerts, exhibitions, live performances and symposiums, with events taking place in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax. In addition to homegrown talent, this year’s series has a global perspective with artists representing over 15 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. The series runs primarily through February with events starting as early as January 21st and ending on March 6th.

Global Marley
A 70th Birthday Concert Celebrating Bob's Worldwide Legacy
Friday, February 6 at Randolf Theatre

The concert brought together a wide cross-section of Toronto artists, from diverse ethnic, cultural and musical backgrounds, to celebrate Marley's global influence. Some of Marley's most classic songs, including "No Woman No Cry", "Jammin'" and "Redemption Song" were rendered in musical styles ranging from rock to blues, jazz to R & B, African to South Asian, in an effort to highlight Marley's extraordinary musical reach. 

Bold, Black, Risk-takers: Honouring The Book of Negroes
Hosted by Matt Galloway
Tuesday, February 3 at TIFF Bell Lightbox

This special evening honoured The Book of Negroes, the seminal piece of literature from Lawrence Hill and its adaptation as the highly anticipated and well-received television mini-series 

Hosted by CBC's Matt Galloway, Toronto audiences had the chance to celebrate these two formative pieces of work and the creative talent behind them, with an in-depth onstage conversation with author and series co-writer Lawrence Hill, co-writer and director Clement Virgo and series lead Aunjanue Ellis, as they discussed the creative process of transforming the book for the screen. 

African Canadian Achievement Awards
Matt Galloway to Receive Excellence in Media Award
Saturday, February 21 at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

CBC congratulates Metro Morning host Matt Galloway for being one of the recipients of the African Canadian Achievement Awards.

MORE about this event