The Blackstone Foundation Library

The journey of life is profound, but it is the guides along the way who truly shape our steps. To the fathers who root us in our heritage, who teach us the rhythm of our ancestors, and who model strength through profound love—thank you. A father's presence is often an initial introduction to our Afrocentricity, planting seeds of pride, history, and cultural identity that blossom for a lifetime.

Happy Father's Day to the protectors, the teachers, and the storytellers of our culture.

We are currently experiencing a temporary glitch in our Digital Library registration system. If you recently tried to sign up, you may have noticed that the platform isn't generating passwords as expected.

Please be assured that our tech team is actively working to resolve this issue, and everything will be back to normal very soon.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. We will provide updates here as we have them.

We are hiring!

The Blackstone Foundation Library is looking for a Library Coordinator Assistant for an 8-week summer position. If you are passionate about literacy, youth programming, and community engagement, we want to hear from you!

This is a fantastic opportunity for students ro build administrative and outreach skills in a supportive environment.

Eligibility Requirements:
• Age 15–30 at the start of the position
• Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee status holder
• Valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Post-secondary students and individuals facing barriers to employment are highly encouraged to apply!

Apply here: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobsearch/jobpostingcsj/49287656

Our children are watching, listening, and feeling the weight of the world around them.

Sometimes, grief doesn't look like a loss; it looks like a change in spirit. In the novel-in-verse Rain Rising, 13-year-old Rain Washington navigates "the big sad" after a racially motivated attack on her brother.

It is a vital read for middle-grade and young adult readers, offering a mirror for those dealing with trauma and a window for those learning empathy. Courtne Comrie gives our youth the language they need to talk about mental health, safety, and the courage it takes to rise.

Empower the young readers in your life. Borrow it at: thebfl.org/access-digital-library



Video Description: A video promoting mental health books for youth. It begins with a black-and-white image of a smiling boy holding a book with the title "BOOKS ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS". At the 10-second mark, the screen transitions to a white background showing the book cover for "Rain Rising" by Courtne Comrie. The graphic includes a summary of the novel-in-verse and a call to action to borrow the book or audiobook from the Blackstone Foundation Library website. The video ends with a decorative geometric border at the bottom.

Our Blackstone Library Book of the Month is Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane. This bold and thought-provoking read challenges readers to examine the systems, histories, and ideas that continue to shape Black life and struggle. It's the kind of book that opens up deeper reflection, sharper analysis, and necessary conversation.

At Blackstone Library, our aim is to make Afrocentric reading and learning materials more accessible to Black communities across the Greater Toronto Area while promoting knowledge of self, cultural education, literacy, and independent learning. Register for the library and start reading - https://thebfl.org/library-signup-2/

Explore the powerful collection, 'A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars', curated by Erin Sharkey. Renowned author Kiese Laymon himself calls it "the most important anthology of this decade." We invite you to expand your knowledge and understanding—sign up for our digital library now and gain immediate access to borrow your very own copy and begin your reading experience today - https://thebfl.org/library-signup-2/

Did you know that literature laureate Toni Morrison championed the work of other African American writers as an editor?

As well as writing eleven novels and three essay collections in which she often addressed the harsh consequences of racism in the United States and the Black American experience, Morrison became the first black woman to hold a senior editor position at Random House in New York City in the late 1960s.

Morrison tirelessly championed black literature by prominent figures such as Angela Davis, Gayl Jones and even Muhammad Ali. She famously edited ‘The Black Book’, a rich exploration of the history and experience of African Americans in the US.

She left her role after more than a decade to focus on writing her own novels, having worked on her fiction late at night and “in the automobile and places like that”. She became the first black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

Read the speech she gave when she received the accolade: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1993/morrison/speech/