Friday, June 19, 2020
For Kids from 7:00-7:45pm EST • For Teens from 7:45-8:15pm EST
For Parents, Educators, and Librarians from 8:15-9:00pm EST

Join the online rally on Facebook Live or Zoom at https://bit.ly/ADBCC_KL4BLC!

#KidLit4BlackLivesCanada is an event designed to educate, empower, and heal, in response to incidents of police brutality, anti-Black racism, and other forms of racial oppression. It will feature story, song, reflection, poetry, and thoughts from predominantly Black-Canadian authors for young people, where Black-Canadian includes those of African, African-Caribbean, and African-Indigenous descent. It will also feature allies who strive for equity and justice.

On Friday, June 19, 2020, starting at 7pm EDT/EST, join author and educator Nadia L. Hohn and the following panellists to show solidarity with our African American neighbours and to address race and racism in Canada.

#KidLit4BlackLivesCanada is modelled after an event called #KidLit4BlackLives which was organized by and largely featured African American authors. The American #KidLit4BlackLives rally was held on Thursday, June 4, 2020 and is available to view on YouTube. It was hosted by TheBrown Bookshelf and led by authors Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jason Reynolds, and featured inspiring words, music, and numerous calls to action in support of equity and justice.

#KidLit4BlackLivesCanada falls on Juneteenth, an important day within the African American community. On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans were finally freed in Texas, almost two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated throughout the United States as a Day of Freedom. Comparatively, in Canada, we celebrate Emancipation Day on August 1 along with other nations in the Caribbean, based on when the British Empire ended slavery.

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