White Canadians will never sufficiently ‘atone.’
Attention: Assignment Editor, Media Editor, News Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor
TORONTO, STATEMENT–(Marketwire – Feb. 11, 2010) – Black HistoryMonth should be embraced and recognized as an important time ofreflection and celebration for all in our society, says OntarioFederation of Labour president Sid Ryan. “An understanding of thestruggles, setbacks and triumphs of African Canadians reveals lessonsthat are valuable for all of us, not just the African-Canadiancommunity.”
“The OFL takes great pride in our partnerships withvital community groups like the Colour of Change Network, with whom werecently co-sponsored a Human Rights Forum. Black History is notstatic, it continues to be made every day,” says OFL executivevice-president Terry Downey. “It’s 2010. As trade union and communityactivists, let’s take this month to celebrate the achievements ofAfrican Canadian women and men and continue to partner with themproactively in their struggle for equity for all of Canadian society.”
Anumber of African Canadian organizations have been celebrating blackhistory month in February since the 1950s. The Ontario Black HistorySociety as instrumental in having February proclaimed as the officialtime period for this celebration both in Toronto in 1979 and Canadawide in 1995.
Between 1840 and 1860, thousands of enslaved Africans travelled theUnderground Railroad to freedom in Canada. As a race, many blacksglobally saw Canada as a place where they would have the freedom toreside and work prejudice and racism free. Unfortunately, thatperception was a myth. Societal and governmental barriers that they didnot create were in place. The colour of their skin became the decidingfactor in how they were negatively treated in society. However, thisdid not deter this phenomenal race from fighting for human rights andeliminating barriers to equal participation in the workplace andsociety both then and now.
Over 50 years ago Stanley Grizzleand Jack White were the first Black Canadian candidates to run forelection to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for the Co-operativeCommonwealth Federation (the predecessor to the New Democratic Party).
Theirefforts to fight for justice and equality should be acknowledged allyear around because they have made a difference. Lobby efforts byactivists like Stan Grizzle, Bromley Armstrong, Harry Gairey, DanielHill and community organizations like the Canadian Negro Women’sAssociation were instrumental in creating change through legislation bythe formation of human rights laws that ensured that social andemployment equity were upheld by employers, landlords, andinstitutions.
Rosemary Brown a staunch NDPer was the firstblack woman to serve in a legislature in Canada. In a 1973 Rosemaryquoted “to be Black and female in a society which is both racist andsexist is to be in the unique position of having nowhere to go but up!”That the first woman to run for the leadership of a political party inCanada was a black woman should be a matter of pride for the feministmovement and for the entire country – but it is rarely even mentioned.Black Canadians of all backgrounds are united around common causes andcan count on the labour movement to be a committed partner around thesehuman rights issues.