Black History Month calendar: November to January laureates

A versatile singer and lawyer, a long-time public administrator, and a prolific author are among the 12 laureates – one for each month of the year – featured in the 2024 Black History Month calendar.

“Many Stories, One History” is the theme of the 33rd edition of Black History Month in Montreal. The calendar was created by the Round Table on Black History Month.

Stéphane Moraille

November is for Stéphane Moraille, a member of the group Bran Van 3000.

The band’s 1997 hit “Drinking in L.A.” was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

But Moraille’s connection to the song is a complicated one, with many layers. The Haitian singer-songwriter was excluded from its promotional tour. And the band’s label allegedly pushed to re-record the song with a singer who sounded less “urban.”

“I try not to dwell on things too much, although it was very painful for me personally,” said Moraille, who is also an entertainment lawyer. “It taught me how to be extremely strong and resilient.”

She calls the band her family, with no undercurrent of misunderstandings today. Moraille has a book and new music coming out soon.

“You don’t do it because it’s going to be heard, you do it because you hear it,” Moraille said of her musical journey.

Ibrahima Gassama

December’s laureate is Ibrahima Gassama, who has worked in Quebec public administration for 15 years.

“I am an expert in police reforms here in the Ministry of Public Security in Quebec,” said Gassama.

With a PhD in economics specializing in ecological economics and sustainable development, he lends his expertise to three universities: one in France and two in Senegal.

Among other accomplishments: he pushes for environmental education in primary schools and has worked at the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles du Québec (MERN) as part of the team responsible for forecasting energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.

“I can help many other members of the community to see they can accomplish great things in this country,” he said.

H. Nigel Thomas

Retired professor of American literature H. Nigel Thomas rounds out the 12 laureates.

Thomas is the author of 13 books – including novels, collections of short stories, collections of poems and two academic works.

He writes because “the human condition mystifies me,” he says.

Thomas’ novels “Spirits in the Dark” and “No Safeguards” were shortlisted for the Hugh MacLennan Award for fiction.

Why write fiction? “I suppose because fiction is as close as you can come to the dream state,” Thomas told CityNews.

When he taught, students used to tell him they loved coming to school because of his classes.

Thomas’ 14th book is coming out on the same month he’s highlighted in the Black History Month calendar: January 2025.

“I am lucky,” he said. “I say that all the time. I am one of the luckiest persons on this planet.”