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A modest but passionate community advocate, Mary Wilson is again assisting the library during its efforts to raise awareness of Black history.

Photo by Chung Chow

Library raising awareness during Black History Month

By Don Fennell

Published 11:55 PST, Fri January 29, 2021

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

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Mary Wilson would prefer to deflect credit elsewhere, asking the author of a 2018 story on Black History Month in the Richmond Sentinel that the article not be about her.

But there’s no denying Wilson’s efforts sparked local recognition of Black History Month in February. And the modest Richmond woman continues to play in important role while standing up for injustice.

“In 2020, the world focused on the Black community, the discrimination and violence we often experience. The Black community assisted by other cultures and community groups connected to fight against these injustices,” she says. “This February, Black History Month in Canada provides another opportunity to share our history, heroes and contributions to Canada as we get to know one another to work towards a just society for all.”

A passionate community advocate, Wilson has been instrumental in the Richmond Public Library’s ongoing efforts to unite the community in celebration and raise awareness. This year, she worked closely with community services librarian Millicent Mabi to plan the programming for this year’s Black History Month celebrations.

At Storytimes throughout February, the library will be featuring specially chosen age-appropriate children’s materials that address topics of fairness, justice and awareness of Black history. These Storytimes aim to spark conversations between young children and their families, while promoting awareness and fostering understanding. Hopefully, these conversations will continue long after the Storytime is complete. The book club programs for older children and teens aim to inspire youth who may already been witnessing or experiencing racism, injustice or unfairness, and by participating in these programs, youth may be encouraged to become the leaders of their own conversations.

Mabi also carefully considered what books to purchase on Black history on the library’s behalf. The library recently purchased over 100 books for adults on Black Lives Matter issues and topics. Mabi focused on looking for recent books that had been published within a year of the purchase date to ensure that the topics were timely and relevant. She also looked for books that touched on Canadian Black Lives Matter issues, and noted that there were fewer of these than books focusing on American context and content. Additionally, she consulted online book lists for their recommendations and considered these in making her selections, and finally, she selected books that explored a wide variety of topics so that the library could offer a well-rounded collection for the community.

Wilson will be welcoming the community virtually all month long to a series of events celebrating the legacy of Black Canadians past and present. This year’s theme recognizes and explores the Canadian Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.

On Feb. 2, an enlightening panel discussion and question-and-answer session will focus on this year’s Black History Month theme. Panelists, representing diverse backgrounds and demographics, will share aspects of their history, and how it has informed their current life and lived experiences. Pre-registration is required for this online program at yourlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events.

Visit any library branch to browse the newly-acquired collection of books that support this year’s theme, and explore these specially curated Black History Month book lists for children and adults.

“Through sharing these materials and offering these events, the library aims to inform and engage the community,” says library spokesperson Stephanie Vokey. “We are proud to offer a diverse range of reading materials and to create unique opportunities to connect virtually together.”