Film Screening and Discussion, "Living in Colour" presented by Black Rivers Alliance
Friday, February 16, 2024 | 7 to 9 p.m.
Newmarket Public Library (438 Park Avenue) | Free Admission | Attend In-Person
Hosted and sponsored by the Newmarket Public Library in partnership with the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association
There is growing awareness in Black communities that documentary and film evidence can be used as an empowering tool for story-making, history-making and change.
About the film
Living in Colour, written and delivered by The Black Rivers' Alliance, is a 40-minute documentary that discusses, analyzes, and receives the past, present, and potential future of the Black community across Canada. It features conversations between members of The Black Rivers' Alliance regarding Black culture, the reception of Caribbean and African cultures by immigrants and the descendants of immigrants across Canada and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the growth of Black pop culture and where it comes from, as well as the exploration of the presence of Black identity in North America and the Caribbean—and whether or not said identity is ultimately rooted in Africa. Olivia Hutchinson, Marcus Walkes, Atiya Williams and Jaylah A. Hall interview and have conversations with Black men, women, and youth across York Region to explore different perspectives on these topics that exist within their community, with hopes of creating and affirming tangibility and reliability in learning more about the truth in past and modern history; history that will fan the fire to form the foundation to build culturally empowered Black teens.
Meet Melissa J. Nelson
Melissa J. Nelson, Archivist, Writer, Educator, Archives of Ontario - Reclaiming the Narrative: Black Archives at the Archives of Ontario
Melissa is an award-winning archivist, writer, and educator. Her work centers Black being and belonging in the archives to support collective healing and liberation movements. Melissa is currently an Archivist at the Archives of Ontario.
Melissa is committed to building community around Black archiving in Canada. She is the Founder and Creative Director of the Black Memory Collective. Melissa also produces and hosts the podcast, Archives & Things. Melissa holds a Master of Information Studies at McGill University. She completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in History, with a minor in Sociology, from Carleton University.
