The impact of Black History is as experiential and personal as the history itself. Throughout the month, we've marked a important events and celebrated people who have affected major change within the fabric of our society. But it's a difficult history, one that is not often told. From the beginning of slavery, by King Louis XIV's Code Noir in 1685, to the passing of the Anti-Slavery Act by Governor John Graves Simcoe, to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, Canada is a nation that gained its first African people through the slave trade. And although slavery was abolished in Canada 30 years before the U.S., which ushered in the years of the Underground Railroad; emancipated and escaped Blacks faced extreme violence and discrimination. The most notable being the Shelbourne Race Riots of 1784, where an armed mob attacked the largest free settlement in North America; beat people, tore down their homes and drove them off the land.
Hundreds of years marred by segregation, brutality and abuse birthed the Civil Rights Movement that began with the passing of the Racial Discrimination Act in Ontario in 1944. But despite legislation, discrimination was widespread during the 1940 and 50's, so much so, the Toronto Telegram sent out "testers" to establishments who were refused service. In 1946, business owner Viola Desmond, was jailed for refusing to give up her seat in the whites-only area of a Nova Scotian movie theater.
Her act of civil disobedience mobilized Black community groups in the province to fight against her conviction and the overwhelming segregation. During the struggle, Desmond lost her court battle, business and marriage. She died alone at age 50, on February 7th, 1965. But her act of courage inspired a huge victory in 1954: The abolition of segregation laws in the province of Nova Scotia. In 2010, Desmond was pardoned by Nova Scotia Lieutenant-Governor Mayann Francis, 63 years after her conviction and 45 years postmortem. In 2018, Viola Desmond is a Civil Rights icon and she became the first Canadian woman to grace the $10 bill
In 1982, as a part of the new Canadian Constitution, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeu instituted the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which concedes that everyone regardless of color, religion, race, or belief possesses fundamental rights that no government can remove without cause.
The Honorable Michaëlle Jean, a Haitian immigrant whose family was descended from slaves, was appointed Governor General by Prime Minister Paul Martin in August 2005. She made social activism the focus of her early career and while in office, she emphasized the freedoms of The Charter as the fabric of Canadian society. Her legacy includes the Michaëlle Jean Foundation that works through the arts, with at-risk youth, to bring about social change in marginalized communities.
We remember the work of these powerful women that have changed the course of Canadian history in this year's national Black History Month theme: Black Canadian Women, Stories of Strength, Courage and Vision, 2018.
This is particularly important because of the crippling impact of intersectionality and the strength and tenacity that it takes to overcome and achieve great things. Even today, Black women face obstacles and barriers based on a combination of race and gender. As RRU's 2018 career conference keynote speaker, Ruth Mojeed, advises, "life is not without challenges, be solutions minded, seek to support, seek to contribute to community."
​The study of Black History is important because it calls into question the multiculturalism of Canadian communities and its current race relations. It is no secret that Canada still struggles with racism and segregation. Stories like Monica's Bar in Toronto denying service to Black clientele, recent racist attacks in Vancouver, the long history of systemic racism in Montreal, continuous instances of police harassment and brutality all lend to the question: How far have we really come? And more importantly, what are we willing to do about it?
In Dr. King's 1963 I have a dream speech, he says, "We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.... we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream." It is from these sentiments and the continued violation of the civil liberties of Black people that movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #TakeAKnee have been born, because if Black History teaches us anything, it's that we can never stop fighting for justice, because the fight is far from over.
Black History tells the stories of great injustice, incredible sacrifices and the fight for basic human rights. It teaches us the timing and strategies of political movements to gain attention for the cause and force responsibility on lawmakers to enact new legislation. We cannot grow weary, because the fight is far from over.
But Black History is not just for and about Black people, it's about change. It's about finding our voice and fighting for our civil liberties. As students gear up for next month's gun control March on Washington, I hear Dr. King's words ring true,"We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."
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