Black History Month 2025: Stories and Celebrations

Sure, entrepreneurship seems glamorous, but not mentioned often enough is how lonely and isolating it can be. This is even more true for minority business owners who may face greater barriers to funding and lesser access to networking opportunities. But through sharing our stories we are able to learn from the experiences of others, empowering us to level up; whether that means to keep at it, become a better leader, to have compassion for our failures, build resilience for risk, or gain inspiration to make the next big move.

A supportive community, at its core, has a willingness to be vulnerable. The individuals that make up that community share their challenges, failures, and successes to uplift others. We are proud to foster and to be a part of such a community; one that not only cares about social equity and equality, but is proactive in lifting the voices of others.  

In that spirit, here are a few inspiring stories of Black entrepreneurs and artists, organized by our Workhaus members in honour of Black History Month. Each story has its own unique perspective but shares common threads of passion, perseverance, and resilience that push anyone to follow their dreams and overcome obstacles.

“I hope the stories I share on these pages inspire fellow entrepreneurs and strivers with ambitious goals and dreams, just as many great people inspired me.”

– George E. Johnson

Black Voices In Their Own Words

Published by Workhaus members Hachette Book Group, Afro Sheen: How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule, from Soul Train to Wall Street is the inspiring and resilient story of George E. Johnson, creator of the iconic Afro Sheen and the first Black-owned company to be traded on Wall Street. George E. Johnson opens up about how he overcame the lack of resources available for Black Entrepreneurs to get initial funding, how Dr Martin Luther King Jr inspired him to give back to the community by asking  “Would you be willing to use your business for social good?”, and how his “ Live and help live” leadership philosophy had a massively positive impact on the Black community. 

George E. Johnson was a  trailblazer, offering employees health benefits and college tuition reimbursement well before other companies started to, and even provided paid maternity leave almost 30 years before the “Family and Medical Leave” act was created in the United States. Long before the tech giants of Silicon Valley were promoting their perks, he was leading a “loyalty not turnover” culture in his company. 

Learn more about Afro Sheen and find other inspiring stories penned by Black authors from Hachette Book Group’s assembled list of books by Black authors. Stories such as the true story by Ibtihaj Muhammad, Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream. As the first female Muslim American to win an Olympic medal, her novel is “a moving coming-of-age story from one of the nation’s most influential athletes and illustrates how she rose above it all.” Learn more about Proud on the Hachette website.

Black Stories on the Screen

Another organization to watch for is Workhaus member ‘alumni’ Reelworld Film Festival and Screen Institute, which was founded by award-winning actress and producer Tonya Williams to improve opportunities for Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour in Canada’s screen industries. Through its non-profit, Reelworld Screen Institute, they offer training programs and organize the Reelworld Film Festival, which highlights stories from racialized Canadians. 

It’s no surprise that Williams will be honored at Canada’s Walk of Fame Annual Awards Show on June 14, 2025 for her groundbreaking contributions to entertainment and inclusion. In fact, Williams will celebrate two major milestones this year: 50 years of impactful work in the screen industry and 25 years as Executive Director of Reelworld Screen Institute. As an actress and industry leader, she has significantly influenced Canadian and international entertainment. Her dual legacy as both an actress and a pioneering force for diversity in media has helped launch countless careers.

Don’t miss the upcoming short film showcase organized by Reelworld and Kuumba, “Imagination Unbound: Black Life in Motion”, screening at the Harbourfront Center on February 14th. There will be a Q&A with the filmmakers following this event.

• Strangers, directed by Leah Doz

• More Than Hair, directed by Fitch Jean

• Viper, directed by Raine LeMay

• The Future Above Us, directed by Vanessa Magic

• Pendulum, directed by Manuel Mathieu

For more information on each film and to purchase tickets, visit the Harbourfront Centre website.

Inviting Our Community to Spotlight Black Businesses 

Here at Workhaus, the theme for our February edition of Mindshare Monthly is “Spotlighting Black Businesses”. We’re inviting our members to share local Black-owned businesses by filling out slips at the front desk with the name and industry of the business. At the end of the month we’ll assemble the full list of submissions and publish it here on our blog. Members will also be able to see the submissions at each respective location by checking the community boards at the end of the month.

Other Communities Around Toronto:

A Different Booklist

A Different Booklist is a local, Black-owner bookstore and cultural centre that has been in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood for 28 years! It’s no secret that brick and mortar establishments have taken a significant hit due to the rise of online shopping, so we encourage everyone from our community to check out this award-winning and iconic establishment in real life. In their own words: “A Different Booklist is an African Canadian owned bookstore specializing in the rich literature of the African and Caribbean Diaspora and the Global South, while showcasing the catalogues of all the major publishers and small presses.” ADB will be hosting the following black book launches this month:

• On February 22nd, 1130AM-130PM, Dez in Jamaica by Dez Kamara, moderated by Dr. Kay Morris

• On February 22nd, 2PM-4PM, Just Kickin’ It by Julie Thomspon

• On February 25th, 630PM, Unlike the Rest by Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa

These events present great opportunities to support a local, Black-owned business, and to uplift Black authors and their stories. We hope you have a chance to learn more by attending one (or all) of them yourself!

SugarKane

Located in the heart of the Danforth, SugarKane is a restaurant owned by three sisters who are bringing the Caribbean and Cajun cuisine that they love to the city. We’ve highlighted SugarKane before, when we spoke to owner-operators Donna, Nicole, and Renee. They shared their story of overcoming the challenges related to racism, sexism and weathering the pandemic. You can also read more about them on BlogTO and the Toronto Star. SugarKane has some of the most delicious Caribbean food in the East end, hosts regular live music and DJ nights, and they’ve even hosted the Prime Ministers of Canada and Barbados! If you’re looking to support a local, Black-owned business this month (or any time) SugarKane is a great place to grab a bite and enjoy a relaxing atmosphere. 

The City of Toronto

Canada Black Music Archives has partnered with the Toronto Music Office and the City of Toronto Archives to present a Black History Month Music Showcase. This free event will take place at the City of Toronto Archives, 255 Spadina Road, on February 21 from 6PM–9PM. There will be live performances and an audiovisual exhibition focused on Toronto Hip-Hop.

Toronto Public Library is hosting a Black Histories Wikipedia Edit-a-thon. You can see their other black history and culture programs, or check out the books in their Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection.

You can see the City of Toronto’s full list of Black History Month programs and exhibitions here.

Thank You from Workhaus

Thank you to our community for sharing your resources and stories, and to everyone for taking the time to learn about Black history and culture. These events and resources are just a few ways that you can support Black businesses and celebrate Black history and culture. There are many more events and opportunities taking place throughout the city, and across the country both online and in person, which we encourage you to explore. Let’s use this month as an opportunity to learn, grow, and build a more inclusive community together.

This article was co-authored by Tori Morency and Jay Collette.