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Join the first ever Black History Month Twenty-Eight Day Challenge
Black Business Can is a newly formed organization that came about during the civil unrest of 2020. The group has created a local Black Directory and has launched a challenge to encourage our community to take daily actions to support Black business in February. They hope this will be the start of new awareness, new habits that will continue year-round, year after year. Though they have started in Windsor Essex, there are plans to slowly grow to support businesses province-wide.
Black Business Can Inc. is celebrating Black History Month 2021 (also known as African Heritage Month) with a Twenty-Eight Day Challenge for the community. Organizers challenge Windsor-Essex County residents to buy products and services from a Black—owned business each day in February. When you do, hashtag your experience with them on social media #blackbusinesscan.
In addition, show our local Black entrepreneurs that their contributions are valuable to our community by sharing Black Business Can Inc.’s social media posts highlighting local Black businesses and organizations.
“One of the best ways to take action against systemic barriers that are now becoming nationally known is to dedicate oneself to support Black communities, whether we identify as Black Canadians or as allies, to choose to spend our money with Black-owned businesses” – CEO Maxine Shelton of Black Business Can Inc.
Founded in 2020, Black Business Can Inc. was formed in Windsor-Essex County but is growing nationally. Its mission is to connect, promote, support, equip, and advance Black businesses and programs.
For a comprehensive listing of businesses, organizations, and Black Historical sites led by Black, African, and Caribbean residents of Windsor-Essex, please visit online.
“Every day, Black business owners and entrepreneurs make invaluable contributions to communities across the country, and their success is essential to Canada’s economic recovery and future prosperity,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2020.
“For too long, Black entrepreneurs and business owners have faced systemic barriers to their success, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on them,” said Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, also in September 2020.
Black History Month (or African Heritage Month) recognizes the important legacy of people of African descent and their contributions to the development of Canada.
African American historian Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926. By the 1970s, it had evolved into Black History Month in both the United States and Canada.
In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honorable Jean Augustine. The motion was carried unanimously by the House of Commons.
