Menelik Hall

The Menelik Hall, located in the heart of Whitney Pier, has been serving community members since 1936. The Hall was built by people of African descent who had come to Cape Breton to work in the mining industry. Since then, the Hall has served as a welcoming place for musical and theatrical performances, boxing, celebratory events and a general gathering place that consistently welcomes and supports people of the community of Whitney Pier.... The Menelik Hall Association is planning to undertake upgrades to the hall to ensure it continues to serve the needs of the community and continue to provide a cultural hub for African Nova Scotian people. There are two ways you can participate in planning for the future the Menelik Hall: Attend an engagement session on November 18 at 6 P.M. to discuss what the hall means to the community, and how you would like to see it evolve. The meeting will also be streamed online to the Menelik Hall Facebook page for those who are not able to make it in person. Register at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VYYHXZ6 . Apply to join the Advisory Committee to help guide the upgrade processes. We are looking for people with various skillsets, from youth to elders, to ensure the hall developments are reflective of community input and maintain the authenticity of what the hall was created to be. Meetings times will be flexible and reflective of the schedules of committee members, who will be chosen through a selection process. Register your interest at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VJ79YBR

The Negro Mother by Langston Hughes Children, I come back today To tell you a story of the long dark way That I had to climb, that I had to know... In order that the race might live and grow. Look at my face dark as the night Yet shining like the sun with love’s true light I am the child they stole from the sand three hundred years ago in Africa’s land. I am the dark girl who crossed the wide sea Carrying in my body the seed of the free. I am the woman who worked in the field Bringing the cotton and the corn to yield. I am the one who labored as a slave, Beaten and mistreated for the work I gave Children sold away from me, husband sold, too. No safety , no love, no respect was I due. Three hundred years in the deepest South: But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth . God put a dream like steel in my soul. Now, through my children, I’m reaching the goal. Now, through my children, young and free, I realize the blessings deed to me. I couldn’t read then. I couldn’t write. I had nothing, back there in the night. Sometimes, the valley was filled with tears, But I kept trudging on through the lonely years. Sometimes, the road was hot with the sun, But I had to keep on till my work was done: I had to keep on! No stopping for me I was the seed of the coming Free. I nourished the dream that nothing could smother Deep in my breast, the Negro mother. I had only hope then, but now through you, Dark ones of today, my dreams must come true: All you dark children in the world out there, Remember my sweat, my pain, my despair. Remember my years, heavy with sorrow. And make of those years a torch for tomorrow. Make of my pass a road to the light Out of the darkness, the ignorance, the night. Lift high my banner out of the dust. Stand like free men supporting my trust. Believe in the right, let none push you back. Remember the whip and the slaver’s track. Remember how the strong in struggle and strife Still bar you the way, and deny you life. But march ever forward, breaking down bars. Look ever upward at the sun and the stars. Oh, my dark children, may my dreams and my prayers Impel you forever up the great stairs. For I will be with you till no white brother Dares keep down the children of the Negro Mother. Photo: Jackson, Mississippi circa 1935

Generously kind men do exist!

November 3 here at the Menelik Hall come see Elvera for all your hair related questions and products from 1pm to 5pm you can contact her [email protected]