black history: WHO AM I?
control Book
black history: WHO AM I? I was born as a slave in Maryland, USA but escaped and walked hundreds of miles on my own to freedom. Later, I returned many times to Maryland to free my family and other slaves. I lived as a free woman in St. Catherines, Ontario. Later, I returned to the USA where I worked for the freedom of Black people and later for the rights of women.
Harriet Tubman
black history: WHO AM I? I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was an allround athlete. I went to college at Syracuse University in New York State. I was a star quarterback and after 4 years at Syracuse I was drafted to play for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. The team would not play me at quarterback because I was Black so I left the team and came to Canada. I was the first Black athlete to play quarterback for a professional football team. I went on to be a teacher and principal in Hamilton. A high school next to my old football stadium is named in my honour.
Bernie Custis
black history: WHO AM I? I was born in 1922 in Toronto, Ontario to parents who had emigrated to Canada from Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I served in the RACF; attended McMaster University and Osgoode Hall law school; and experienced racial discrimination in all thoses places. In 1968, I was elected to Canadian Parliament as the first Black member and later served in the federal cabinet. In 1985, I was appointed the first Black Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Lincoln Alexander
black history: WHO AM I? I once was called the world’s fastest human because I held the world record for the 100-metre sprint. I won the Olympic gold medal at the 1996 games for running 100 metres in 9.84 seconds and was part of the Canadian gold medal relay team. While I was born in Jamaica, I came to live in Canada when I was 13. I am a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Order of Canada.
Donovan Bailey
black history: WHO AM I? I was born in Montreal in 1925 to parents that had come to Canada from the West Indies. My Montreal neighbourhood was full of music and by age five I was playing the trumpet and piano. I got sick and could not play the trumpet anymore so I concentrated on piano. I won a national competition when I was 14 and left school to be a professional pianist. Considered a jazz virtuoso, I played all over the world and served as a teacher to many musicians. I won 8 Grammy awards and was a member of the Order of Canada.
Oscar Peterson
black history: WHO AM I? I was a business woman in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, who went to a movie theatre in 1946 and sat in the floor seats due to my poor eyesight. I was unaware that only white people could sit in those seats. When I refused to leave I was arrested, put in jail and fined. I was later convicted for the one cent difference in the cost of the tax for my seat. People compare me to American activist Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat on a bus. I died in 1965 but Canadians never forgot my story. In 2010, I was pardoned for my conviction and the government apologized. In 2018, I was chosen to appear on the $10 bill in Canada. I am the first non-royal woman to appear solely on a Canadian bank note.
Viola Desmond (née Davis)
black history: WHO AM I? Although I was American and not Canadian, I did something very special in Montreal on April 18, 1946. I had played baseball in an all-Black league but on that date I was the first Black athlete to play in a regular season professional game. They said I “broke the colour barrier” in baseball. I went on to be a major league player for the Brooklyn Dodgers and later was a businessman. I died at age 53, but was active in the fight for civil rights for Black Americans.
Jackie Robinson
black history: WHO AM I? I was born Aubrey Drake Graham in Toronto in 1986. I am a singer and rapper but I began as an actor on a tv show called Degrassi: The Next Generation. Later turned my creative talents to music and became a bestselling recording artist. I have won Grammy, MTV Video and Billboard awards. I am also an entrepreneur who started my own record label and clothing line called OVO. I am a huge basketball fan and I am a team ambassador for the Toronto Raptors.
Drake
black history: WHO AM I? While I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, I came as a refugee to Canada and eventually became the 27th Governor General of Canada. The Governor General is the Queen’s representative in Canada. I was a journalist for many years because I speak both French and English. I am able to report in both of Canada’s languages. Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed me Governor General and I was the first Black person or person of Caribbean origin to serve in that role. While I had the position, I spent a great deal of time supporting Indigenous communities in Canada.
Michaelle Jean
black history: WHO AM I? I was born in Jamaica and came to Canada on a scholarship to study engineering at McMaster University. Later I began to work as a financial planner and I started companies that helped people manage their money and plan for retirement. I am well known for the contributions I have made to many charities including the Royal Ontario Museum, the University of Toronto and to Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. I served as Chancellor for Wilfred Laurier University and was awarded the Order of Ontario.
Michael Lee-Chin
black history: WHO AM I? I am a lawyer, activist and writer that became the first African-American First Lady when my husband was elected the 44th U.S. President – the first Black leader of a North American country.
The Obama’s
black history: WHO AM I? I am a Canadian female hockey player from Hamilton, Ontario. I set an Olympic Record for most points (18) and most assists (13) in a women’s tournament on route to a Gold Medal in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. In 2024, I was drafted second overall by Toronto in the unaugural season of the PWHL.
Sarah Nurse
black history: WHO AM I?
I am President and Vice Chair of the Toronto Raptors and I was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada for my leadership in sport and as a Black rights activist.
Masai Ujiri