Celebrating Black History / Black Futures beyond February Closing Statement.

 Image Credit: Movement for Black Lives - m4bl.org

As we reflect on this past month of celebrating Black History/Black Futures, we remind you of Costume Department member Josie Delgiglio’s thoughts, “we are in the winter, planting seeds.”  This harkens back beautifully to the sentiment shared by Zora Neale Hurston, a prolific African American author, whose life spanned from January 7, 1891, to January 28 1960. Hurston said: “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”

And, here we are, in 2022, about to celebrate 60 years as a labour organization with what we hope to be the beginnings of one, if not many, long unanswered calls.  IATSE 891 continues to hear the calls for equity, for inclusion, for anti-Black racism to be addressed as a health and safety matter, and for all of us to be respected for our full humanity.

Let’s be completely transparent here: unions have not always served all. ‘Lift one, lift all,” and  “the rising tide lifts all boats” - these are familiar ideals and sentiments of the labour movement.  We must move forward with integrity and back up our ideals, by taking action both inside and outside the walls of our union, celebrating our accomplishments, learning from our shared histories, and cultivating empathy and understanding. 

There is a multitude of ways throughout the year we can celebrate the rich and diverse history and futures of Black Canadians here and across the world. One month is just the beginning of recognizing and uplifting the contributions of Black brothers, sisters and kin that have enriched the country. From our schools and our workplaces to our everyday lives, the time is always now to learn, celebrate, and ignite years-long discussions and action for Black communities.  

Here is a shortlist of how we can keep conversations and education evolving:
Support Black-owned businesses

1. Learn about noteworthy Black figures and their contributions
2. Donate to charities that fight against anti-Black racism, and promote equity and inclusion
3. Purchase, read, and share books by Black Canadian authors
4. Support and learn about Black women across sectors, including the motion picture and television industry
5. Participate in online events centred on Black communities, movements and worker support

With the intention and desire to uplift all voices, IATSE 891 encourages our members to keep the dialogue going. The importance of critical conversations around addressing anti-Black racism in our work environments, in the labour movement and in our communities, could not be more pressing.  Below are a few notable dates specific to British Columbia’s Black History

• Aug 1, 1834:  Emancipation Day. This is the date Britain's Parliament abolished slavery in the British Empire and the day was officially recognized by Canada’s House of Common’s as Emancipation Day on March 24, 2021.
• September 10, 1859: John Craven Jones, the first Black teacher in the province of BC and the only teacher on Salt Spring Island, was born on this day and lived until 1875.
• November 26, 1872: BC enacts legislation for Black men to be on the official list of jurors.
• Jan 1, 1910: Vancouver’s Black community establishes Hogan’s Alley and begins settling in the East Side neighbourhood of Strathcona, creating an active and distinctive community. There were a number of businesses, restaurants, and entertainment venues owned and operated by Black community members. At its height in the 1930s and 1940s, the Black population in the Strathcona neighbourhood of Vancouver numbered approximately 800. 
• August 12, 1911: On this day, the Canadian Government issued an Order in Council (OIC) to limit Black immigration to Canada. Order-in-Council P.C. 1324 was approved on 12 August, 1911 by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
• June 1, 1912: First Black family to settle in the Surrey area. The Scott family was among the earliest Black families to settle in Surrey in 1912. Henry Houston Scott (b. 1854), his wife Amy (b.1864), and their three youngest children Roy, Jesse and Benola, were from Oklahoma. Henry purchased a seven-acre parcel of land along today’s 64 Avenue at 181A Street. The family took up farming. All that remains today are some of the apple trees that still blossom.
• February 5, 1938: Born and raised in Vancouver, Barbara Howard is the first Black woman athlete to represent Canada in international competition at the 1938 British Empire Games held in Sydney, Australia. Ms. Howard was also the first Black person hired as a teacher by the Vancouver School Board.
• April 1, 1941: In April of 1941, Vancouver newspapers began reporting on the “Crystal Pool Controversy” where the Vancouver Parks Board imposed a colour ban limiting the use of the pool for Blacks and Chinese only on Tuesday mornings. While some Park Board members did protest, the “colour line” lasted for more than 4 years until November 1945.
• June 12, 1955: Eleanor Collins is the first woman in Canada and the first artist of colour in North America to host her own national weekly television music variety show. Eleanor Collins has been the recipient of numerous awards for her contribution to arts and entertainment, including: the 1986 Centennial Distinguished Pioneer Award, induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Awards from ACTRA’s Sam Payne Award, The Toronto Black Diversity Network Black Canadian Awards, and the Black Women in Jazz Awards in Atlanta, Georgia. On November 21, 2014, Collins’ 95th Birthday, she was invested into the Order of Canada.
• March 5, 1958: Founding of the BC Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (BCAACP). This is the first racially oriented, and non-violence/activist organization in British Columbia. It provided a community voice and support for self-definition through census taking, liaised with other Canadian and American organizations, endeavored to influence the curriculum in BC schools, as well as provided support for individuals facing discrimination in areas such as education, housing, and the justice system.
• July 1, 1971: Harry Jerome receives the Order of Canada and is named British Columbia’s Athlete of the Century. Jerome was a Canadian track and field sprinter and physical education teacher. He won a bronze medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and set a total of seven world records over the course of his career.
• August 30, 1972: Rosemary Brown was the first Black woman to sit in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, as an NDP MLA in the riding of Vancouver-Burrard. She was an MLA for 14 years and she also held the position of Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (1993-1996).
• April 17 1982/1985: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into force on April 17, 1982, and on the same day in 1985, section 15 - Equality rights, came into effect. It states: “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.”
• March 1, 1994: Emery Barnes is elected as Speaker of the BC Legislature. When he was elected, by secret ballot, as the Speaker, Barnes was the first Black person to hold this position in any Canadian province.
• February 1, 1995: Canada recognizes and celebrates Black History Month, following the initiative of the Honourable Jean Augustine, Canada’s first black Member of Parliament.
• Nov 1, 1995: The Honourable Justice Romilly is the first Black person to be named to the BC Supreme Court.
• September 22, 1997: The arrival of Black settlers in 1858 is designated an “Event of National Historic Significance” by the Government of Canada. The commemorative plaque is located at the Central Saanich United Church, formerly The Shady Creek Church. The plaque was unveiled on February 20, 2000. 
• February 26, 2013: The #BlackLivesMatter call to action is started in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of 17-year old, unarmed Trayvon Martin. Martin was shot a year earlier on February 26, 2012. Three women, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, started what has become a global organization, with an established chapter in British Columbia. The organization’s mission is “to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.”
• June 24, 2017: Doug Hudlin is inducted, posthumously, into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Known as the “Gentleman Umpire”, Doug was inducted into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, the Umpires Association Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Canadian Baseball Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. He is also a founding member of BC Black History Awareness Society.
• October 20, 2018: Sharmarke Dubow is the first Black City Councillor to be elected in Victoria in 152 years. Dubow is a Somali Canadian politician and human rights advocate. He cast his first vote ever in an election in Canada on October 20, 2018 and in that same municipal election, he was elected a City Councillor in Victoria, BC.

For more information on Black History/Black Futures month, ongoing events and more, please visit and consider donating to the BC Black History Awareness Society https://bcblackhistory.ca/

“Black History lost, has been found; Strayed, has wondered back and Stolen, is being returned.”
-    Carrie Best, a Black Canadian Journalist, and Co-Founder of The Clarion, one of the first Nova Scotia newspapers owned and published by Black Canadians (1946).