Black Canadian is a term used to identify a Canadian of predominantly, or at least partial, African descent. Historically the majority of those in Canada of African descent have been black, therefore the term is not typically used to apply to non-black people. It is also becoming increasingly common to refer to a Black Canadian as an African Canadian.
Many Black Canadians, or Blacks as they are sometimes known, are descendants of persons who left the United States to escape from slavery during the 1700’s and 1800’s. Many are also descendants of persons who immigrated to Canada from the West Indies during the 20th century.
According to the 2001 Census 662,215 Canadians identified themselves as Black, approximately 2% of the entire Canadian population (Statistics Canada). The majority of Black Canadians live in five Canadian cities. As of 2001, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Halifax were home to approximately 78.4 percent of all Black Canadians.
Although many people believe Black Canadians have made great contributions to Canadian society, Black Canadians still face significant challenges. According to the Ethnic Diversity Survey that was released in September 2003, almost half of the Black Canadians surveyed said they have experienced some form of discrimination or unfair treatment in the past five years.
Notable Black Canadians and their achievements
- Alvin Curling, politician, ammassed the highest-ever vote total in a Canadian election
- Anne Cools, Canada's first Black Senator
- Bruny Surin, Olympic gold medallist (4x100 relay, Atlanta (1996)
- Daurene Lewis, first Black woman mayor in North America
- Donovan Bailey, first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal in the 100m dash (1996)
- Elijah McCoy, inventor, automatic machinery lubricator, lawn sprinkler, the "real McCoy"
- George Dixon, first Black world boxing champion in any weight class
- Glenroy Gilbert, Olympic gold medallist (4x100 relay, Atlanta 1996)
- Howard McCurdy, parliamentarian
- Jarome Iginla, first Black athlete to be named captain of an NHL team.
- Jean Augustine, Parliamentarian
- Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré, first appointed Black judge in the history of Quebec
- Lincoln Alexander, parliamentarian and former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- Marlene Jennings, parliamentarian
- Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario provincial politician
- Mary Ann Shadd, lawyer and publisher
- Nalo Hopkinson, science fiction author (Brown Girl in the Ring)
- Ovid Jackson, parliamentarian
- Portia White, gospel singer
- Rita Deverell, broadcaster
- Robert Esmie, Olympic gold medallist (4x100 relay, Atlanta 1996)
- Rosemary Brown, British Columbia provincial politician, broadcaster and author, and the first woman to run for the leadership of a federal political party
- Sam Langford, boxer ("The Boston Terror")
- William Hall, first Canadian and first person of African descent to be awarded the Victoria Cross
- Willie O'Ree, first black hockey player in the National Hockey League
Other Famous Black Canadians
- Austin Clarke, author (The Polished Hoe)
- Dionne Brand, author
- Djanet Sears, playwright (Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God)
- Faith Nolan, folksinger
- Lennox Farrell, poet and community activist
- Maestro Fresh-Wes, hip-hop musician
- Michaelle Jean, broadcaster
- Molly Johnson, rock and jazz musician
- Olivier Le Jeune, believed to have been the first slave purchased in what later became Quebec
- Oscar Peterson, jazz pianist
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