BLK: An Origin Story is a Canadian documentary television series, which aired in 2022 on History.Michelle Butterfield, "Groundbreaking new series explores Canada’s shocking, untold Black history". Global News, February 26, 2022. Created, directed and produced by Sudz Sutherland and Jennifer Holness for Hungry Eyes Film and Television, the series explores Black Canadian history.Shakiel Mahjouri, "‘BLK: An Origin Story’ Trailer Celebrates The Impact Of Black History In Canada". ET Canada, January 13, 2022.
The four episodes explored the initial migrations of Black Loyalist, Black Refugee and Jamaican Maroon communities to Nova Scotia in the 18th and 19th centuries;Melissa Noel, "Canadian Black history illuminated in new four-part docuseries". TheGrio, February 8, 2022. the history of the Little Burgundy neighbourhood in Montreal;Bill Brownstein, "Little Burgundy's glory days live again in documentary". Montreal Gazette, March 10, 2022. the history of the Hogan's Alley neighbourhood in Vancouver;Sonia Deol, "Rebuilding Vancouver's Black community after the destruction of historic Hogan's Alley". Global News, March 18, 2022. and the story of John "Daddy" Hall, a free-born Black and Mohawk Canadian man from Owen Sound who was captured by the American military when he fought in the War of 1812, and forced into slavery for 13 years until escaping and returning to Canada.Rob Gowan, "John 'Daddy' Hall story gets a national audience". Owen Sound Sun-Times, March 23, 2022.
The series premiered on February 26, 2022.Greg David, "HISTORY AND HUNGRY EYES MEDIA PRESENT A GROUNDBREAKING EXPLORATION OF CANADA’S BLACK HISTORY IN BLK: AN ORIGIN STORY, PREMIERING FEBRUARY 26". TV, eh?, January 14, 2022.
Awards Tom Third received a nomination for Best Original Score for a Non-Fiction Series or Limited Series at the Screen Composers Guild of Canada's inaugural Canadian Screen Music Awards.Angelica Babiera, "First-ever Canadian Screen Music Awards announces nominees". Playback, August 16, 2022.
The series won five Canadian Screen Awards at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, for Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Factual Series (Ricardo Diaz), Best Editing in a Documentary Program or Series (Avril Jacobson), Best Direction in a Documentary Series (Holness), Best Original Music in a Documentary Series (Third) and Best Writing in a Documentary (Sutherland).Jackson Weaver, "To Kill a Tiger, We're All Gonna Die and BLK emerge as top winners at CSAs' opening night". CBC News, April 11, 2023.
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