Black History Month

Traveling While Black Virtual Reality Experience

In “Traveling While Black VR,” the immersion of 360° footage draws viewers into living history lessons told around a booth in Ben’s Chili Bowl. The Washington, D.C. restaurant has been a mainstay of the African American community since 1958, bearing witness to significant Civil Rights milestones that are woven into the film in powerful snippets of footage. The Traveling While Black VR experience/film was directed by Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams.

McLean Community Center
February 1-12,2022

Fairfax County Library
February 16 – March, 30, 2022

Virtual screening of Nancy’s Workshop
February 2, 2:00 pm ET

In partnership with Vue d’Afrique International Film Festival and the Canadian Cultural Centre in France, the Embassy of Canada in France will present the online screening of the short film Nancy’s Workshop by Canadian director Aïcha Diop. The movie tells the story of Nancy Falaise, a cancer survivor who closes her hairdressing salon once a month to host an inspiring workshop for young Black Girls. The screening will be followed by a live discussion with Aïcha Diop and Nancy Falaise. The film is bilingual with subtitles in both languages.

“Talk Back, Look Forward” Panel Discussion
Friday, Feb. 4, 7:30-9 p.m.
Free admission; registration is required.

Panelists Include Film Director Roger Ross Williams, Ben’s Chili Bowl Owner Virginia Ali and Political Advocate Samaria Rice, Among Others  

The McLean Community Center (MCC) is celebrating Black History Month by bringing together some of the civil rights leaders featured in the “Traveling While Black” Virtual Reality Experience for a panel discussion on Friday, Feb. 4. The “Talk Back, Look Forward” Panel Discussion will feature Ben’s Chili Bowl Founder and Owner Virginia Ali, D.C. Civil Right Veteran Courtland Cox, DC Legendary Musicians Chair Rev. Dr. Sandra Butler-Truesdale, Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams and Tamir Rice Foundation Founder and CEO Samaria Rice, who is interviewed in the film. Williams and Rice will be participating remotely. Media Strategist Joshua Henry Jenkins will moderate the discussion, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. A catered, boxed meal from Ben’s Chili Bowl will be available to participants starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission to the event is free; however, registration is required. Register at www.mcleancenter.org. MCC is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave.

Canadian Heritage Black History Month virtual celebration
February 17, 2022, 7:00 pm ET

Tune in to the Black History Month virtual celebration on Facebook Live at 7 pm (ET), February 17, 2022. This live virtual event highlighting this year’s theme will feature performances, tributes, interviews and much more!

North is Freedom

Virtual exhibition by Slovak-Canadian photographer Yuri Dojc entitled North is Freedom: The Legacy of the Underground Railroad, presented by the Embassy in partnership with the U.S. Parks Service.  The installation is a series of 24 portraits of the Canadian descendants of African Americans who escaped slavery and found their freedom in Canada.

Black History Month Quiz

Learn more by taking the Global Affairs Canada’s Visible Minorities Network Black History Month quiz:

Start the Quiz