They created a space for Black girls to read together and share their experiences

CBC Quebec is highlighting people from the province's Black communities who are giving back, inspiring others and helping to shape our future. These are the Black Changemakers.

The idea behind creatingthe Montreal book club Black Girls Gather, its founders say, wasto make something they wishhad existed when they were younger.

"I was usually at home reading, or at the library alone. And it's lonely sometimes," said Fabiola Ngamaleu Teumeni, who along with Mariame Tour created the club last year in partnership with the West Island Black Community Association.

The two met when Tour was tutoring Teumeni at a predominantly white high school in Montreal. Teumeni is now studying psychology in CEGEP, while Tour is a law student atUniversit de Montral.

"Like many visible minority students in these types of institutions, we didn't feel represented within our cohort or within the literature that we studied," said Tour.

In the classroom, the Harper Lee novelTo Kill a Mockingbird might typicallybe chosento examine the unequal treatment of people by the justice system. Black Girls Gather opted fora more contemporary selection: Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson.

• Being Black in Canada: Highlightingthe stories and experiences of Black Canadians

The book club is split into two groups of about 10 girls, one for ages 12 to 14 and another for those 15 to 18. Each month they read a book that "centres us," said Teumeni, and hold a related workshop.

'Black women and Black girls are often forgotten'

While it's the reading that brings the girls together, their discussions go well beyond what's written on thepage. It's a jumping-off point to discussexperiences from their own lives.

"We often see spaces like these created for Black boys, but Black women and Black girls are often forgotten. And it hurts," said Teumeni.

In May, their workshop is based around Black hair its history and how to care for it.

"Through these types of activities they become more open about their experience, about their insecurities and we kind of affirm their beauty," said Tour.

"We remind them that no matter what people say, you are beautiful, you do matter, you are more than enough."

The book club also creates a safe space for the girls to bring up things they would otherwise not be comfortable discussing. It launchedin the fall, when the use of the N-word in academic contexts was being debated across Quebec.

Tour said the book club gave the girls a place to talk about how they felt, and to bring up incidents they had witnessed in their schools.

She saidthe group is about building self-esteem, learning to love themselves more and developing an attachment to Black culture.

"All we talk about is what we experience as Black women," said Tour. "You do feel this sense of, 'I am Black enough. I can be Black and a million other things and still be proud of it.'"

Black Girls Gather helps teens connect to Black culture through books

4 years ago

Duration 7:17

Mariame Tour and Fabiola Ngamaleu Teumeni wished they had a space to connect to Black culture in high schoolso they created their own. CBC Montreals Debra Arbec speaks with the founders of Black Girls Gather about how theyve helped young women navigate their identities.

The Black Changemakers is a special series recognizing individuals who, regardless of background or industry, are driven to create a positive impact in their community. From tackling problems to showing small gestures of kindness on a daily basis, these changemakers are making a difference and inspiring others.Read more stories here.