Handel Wright and UBC Centre for Culture, Identity Education

educational studies director: Wright, a professor of educational studies and director of UBC Centre for Culture, Identity and Education, says because those immigrants come from many different places, it difficult to find a sense of unified black identity in B.C. "We don't have black spaces as such, according to CBC. We don't have black geography, black neighbourhoods ... although some are emerging in the suburbs, New West, maybe, or Burnaby," Wright told On The Coast guest host Gloria Macarenko. An immigrant from Sierra Leone, Handel Wright is part of a small but growing population of people from all over Africa settling in the Lower Mainland. Salt Spring Island black settlers set stage for today community Filmmaker Barbara Chirinos celebrates black history month with VIFF film series Black Vancouverites respond to question 'Where are you from ' He says in Vancouver, black identity is done differently than his home country, or even Toronto, where there are more black people. And you nod back and say, I see you too." Black History Month and black identity Wright says that while there is a lack of black spaces, there are spaces and community groups aimed at people from specific African countries, like Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia and his own Sierra Leone. He says black online communities are relied upon more here, and black people are used to giving each other what he calls "a perfunctory nod" when they see each other. "That nod simply says … I see you, I acknowledge your presence, I recognize you as someone similar to me," he said "We might not have exactly the same history, but I see you. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.