Reflecting on Black Excellence: A Recap of Ask Me Anything’s Black History Month Event

May 24, 2024 - Defence Stories

On February 21, the Materiel Group’s Diversity and Inclusion Office (DIO), in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard, put together a compelling Black History Month event titled “Celebrating Black Excellence.”

This Ask Me Anything (AMA) session served as a platform for Black members of the Federal Public Service to engage in candid, transparent conversations pertinent to Black History Month. Hosted by Lyrique Richards and Gana Moke, the panel heard from inclusive leaders representing various departments and in different stages within their careers. Patricia Fraser, Sytuis Guei, and Cathy Beye shared their authentic stories, discussing the intricacies of Black excellence both within the public service and broader society.

Designated as Black History Month, February serves as a tribute to the contributions of Black individuals, not only in Canada but also worldwide. February called for celebrating Black innovation, resilience, and solidarity. This is the time for us, as members of the Defence Team and the Federal Public Service, to join as co-conspirators in advancing belonging and psychological safety, cultivating an inclusive workforce where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Black History Month signifies this potential for growth, offering spaces for reflecting on our past. As Sytuis Guei expressed, “You can’t wake a person who is pretending to be asleep,” gesturing to how important it is for us to collaboratively strive for change through understanding history and sharing our experiences alongside expressing greater empathy for each other.

Cathy Beye's poignant reflection captured the essence of the event. She said, “My main takeaway is the shared respect, empathy and understanding felt throughout in celebrating our victories despite or against what Sytuis qualified as a “mine field” and for which I propose the variant of ‘rigged field.’ The validation of experiences provided to the Black audience and the acknowledgement of our reality from the Allies in the audience make me feel better about a true change, as the first step in addressing a problem is to name it.”

Cathy’s words emphasised how important this AMA event was for assessing our history while acknowledging systemic issues. Her words resonated with AMA’s core principles of bridging perspectives and worldviews and cultivating spaces where marginalised members may safely share their authentic stories and layers, spaces where - as Gana Moke remarked, “there can be synergy between our truths.”

As one viewer suggested, the event left a lasting impression, prompting introspection and reaffirming the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect. It served as a pivotal moment in fostering awareness and fostering a commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

This event was a testament to the power of dialogue, empathy, and collective action in celebrating Black excellence, as well as advancing diversity and inclusion within the public service. Sharing her key takeaway, Patricia emphatically explained that the AMA platform had given her a chance to use her voice and encouraged her to reach for the stars. What profound words! Patricia underscored AMA’s impact in fostering genuine dialogue and collective introspection.