Human Rights Fact Sheets and Resources

Celebrate African Heritage Month

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The United Steelworkers acknowledges the contributions and achievements African Canadians have made to our union, our communities and our country. Together, we celebrate African Heritage Month throughout the month of February.

To help celebrate African Heritage Month this year, the Steelworkers Canadian National Office has produced a postcard that has been distributed to USW locals across the country. 

The USW postcard commemorates the place in Canadian history of the former community of Africville. Halifax's largest black community, Africville endured generations of racism, neglect and dire poverty. The community's buildings were bulldozed in the 1960s in what was called 'urban renewal' at the time.

In 2002, the government of Canada designated the former site of Africville as a National Historic Landmark. In 2010, former residents of Africville and their descendants received a formal apology from Halifax regional council.

Copies of the postcard are available to USW locals and members. Requests can be sent by email to communications@usw.ca.

African Heritage Month is also an opportunity for Steelworkers to speak out against racism and for the strengthening of human rights for those of African heritage and for all people of colour in Canada.

As a society we are aware of the more extreme examples of racial injustice that are often reported in the media. Individually, however, we also encounter these as personal injustices in the workplace, whether in the form of racist jokes and stereotypes, personal harassment towards people of colour and, more systemically, through unfair hiring and promotion.

The Steelworkers are committed to continue protecting and promoting human rights for African Canadians and all equity-seeking groups.

Ken Neumann
National Director