About the Black Pledge Collective

The Black Pledge Collective exists to dismantle anti-Black racism in live performance and uplift *Black artists and arts workers. We began in 2020, in the wake of the explosive outcry after the murders of *George Floyd and Breonna Taylor many others in the United States and here in so called Canada, Abdi Abdirahman, D’ Andre Campbell, Andrew Loku, Raymond Regis Porchinski-Paquet, Raymond Lawrence and many other Black people at the hands of the police.

We pledged to hold performing arts organizations accountable to their promises to meaningfully address anti-Black racism. We stand on the shoulders of the many artist-activists who came before us, and laid the ground for the Black Pledge to exist. In addition to dismantling anti-Black racism, we recognize the importance of Black-led,  Black-centred and Black-serving spaces and initiatives.

About These Guidelines

These guidelines are a part of a living document and can be changed at any time.

Black-Led, Black-Centred, Black-Serving

The Black Pledge Collective is Black-led, Black-centred and Black-serving. We affirm, centre and uplift Black people in our work and all our spaces.

Harassment & Violence Free Zone

Harassment is behaviour that is known or ought to be known to be unwelcome. It can include unwanted sexual advances, unsolicited and hurtful comments about one’s appearance, sexuality, gender, religious and spiritual beliefs and economic status, or directing criticism to one person or group of people, as well as other repeated acts that are harmful. We recognize that harassment harms the person it is directed at, as well as anyone who is witness to it.

Harassment and violence are not tolerated in Black Pledge spaces. If you are the victim of harassment or violence or witness it happening, please reach out to a member of the Black Pledge collective and it will be addressed as soon as possible. You can contact sfiati@theblackpledge.ca or vwells@theblackpledge.ca. For in person events, concerns can be brought to any member of the Black Pledge Collective team. We will endeavour to understand the situation and work toward responses that centre those who were harmed, respect confidentiality when required/requested and value responsibility and justice.

Black Pledge Guiding Values

Joy

We believe Black joy is integral to our work and we seek to cultivate it in every space and event we host. We invite everyone who is creating space with us to cultivate joy as well.

Generosity

We are generous with our time, funds and resources. We embrace abundance, knowing there is more than enough for everyone.

Care & Intersectionality

We centre care in our work and how we create space. Everyone has care needs and we do our best to create spaces where many Black people can participate. We centre the needs of those who sit at the intersections of marginalized identities, including those who identify as Trans, disabled, 2SLGBQIAA, D/deaf, newcomers and refugees and people having a low income, as well as those who have caregiving responsibilities and are parenting. We recognize and affirm Black/People of African descent as multi-faceted individuals, coming from many backgrounds, including Afro-Indigenous, Afro-Nova Scotian, mixed race and ethnic backgrounds.

Definitions

*Black/African descent - from the Black Screen Office

People who trace their roots to Sub-Saharan Africa including those with origins in the United States, Caribbean and Latin America

Black/Afro Diaspora - from DePaul University website, Center of the Black Diaspora

DI-AS-PO-RA / n. a dispersion of a people, language, or culture that was formerly concentrated in one place, to scatter, to displace, to live in separated communities.

AFRICAN & BLACK DIASPORA -The African Diaspora is the voluntary and involuntary movement of Africans and their descendants to various parts of the world during the modern and pre-modern periods.​

* The list and circumstances of Black people who have been killed by the police is in progress and we pledge to create and update this list on a regular basis, as we learn more information.