Over the history of the Empire Club of Canada, there have been speeches addressing Blacks in Canada and the World. The speeches reflect the beliefs and thoughts of the speakers of the time. Many of the comments, particularly in some of the earlier speeches, will seem offensive or shocking to our readers today.The Empire Club always reflected the times in which it operated, and some of the earlier attitudes toward race in Canada were by today’s standards both backward and offensive. The country, and certainly the Empire Club, has made progress in this regard and continues to work toward diversity, equity and inclusion to ensure a platform from which the voices of all Canadians can be heard.
Thank you.
The Empire Club Foundation houses the historical digital library, and its mandate is education. For Black History Month, we are providing links to several speeches from the earlier days to the present day that provide the reader with a variety of opinions and perspectives. We provide links to these speeches only to shine a light on Black History, not to support any particular position or commentary.
“History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future.”
Robert Penn Warren
“Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.”
Winston Churchill
PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE IN WEST AFRICA
An Address by Dr. Tom Jays of Nigeria, on November 23, 1911.
Dr. Jays reports to the Empire Club about his recent travels in West Africa and how he believes the English should approach their colonization. He discusses the colonization of West Africa with pride and also expounds on the West African’s role in the development of the colonies. The speech is a historical view of how the Empire viewed the African colonies in the early 1900s.
SOUTH AFRICA AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF UNION
An Address by Willem Dirkse-Van-Schalkwyk, South African High Commissioner to Canada, on Thursday, October 27th, 1960
The newly appointed South African High Commissioner to Canada speaks in support of apartheid. At the time John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister. Through 1959 the Canadian government did not criticize South African government. However, in 1961 it was Diefenbaker’s tie-breaking vote that forced South Africa to withdraw from the Commonwealth. (see Wikipedia for more)
https://empireclubfoundation.org/speech/darkest-america-and-the-way-out/DARKEST AMERICA AND THE WAY OUT
An Address by Rev. Dr. James E. Mason, Professor of Political Economy in, and Secretary of, Livingstone College, North Carolina, on December 14, 1911.
The Rev. Dr. James Mason hailed from North Carolina and was a popular speaker, particularly in churches, throughout the United States. He begins his speech: “It is a long and difficult journey from driving mules in a coal mine to standing in this distinguished presence.”
An Address by F. Eward Lund, A.B., M.A., Ph.D., LL.D., President, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio on Thursday, January 23rd, 1958
Dr. Lund begins his address: What you are about to hear is a first-hand interpretation from an individual possessing a rather cosmopolitan point of view who happened to have lived in the South for something over a quarter century. If this point of view has become fixed, it is fixed in compassion–compassion for the negro, compassion for the blind ignorance, the bigotry, and the self-righteousness of all those who have convinced themselves of pat and easy answers.
DISCRIMINATION IS A BROKEN PROMISE
An Address by R. Gordon L. Fairweather, Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission, November 22, 1979
F
airweather, appointed in 1977 by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, was the first Commisioner of the newly formed Human Rights Commission of Canada. He speaks of Canada’s commitment to Human Rights and the battles to be won.
THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE FOR BLACK CANADIANS
A recorded video of a panel discussion held February 14, 2022.
As has been brought to light in recent years, any system designed by one does not fit all. Canada’s healthcare system is no exception. Like many institutions, the Canadian healthcare system has been recognized for having failed our BIPOC communities in areas such as accessibility, culturally- adapted therapies and delivery methods, diagnosis, and quality of care (to name a few), creating devastating disparities along racial lines in the health outcomes for Canadian populations. Indeed, The Commonwealth Fund’s 2021 report records this issue, ranking Canada 10th out of 11 high income developed nations in the area of healthcare ‘equity’. The disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on Canada’s Black communities, as well as risk of psychosis and likelihood of death from breast cancer further indicate a fractured healthcare system.
THE DEMAND FOR DIVERSITY IN THE NEW WORKPLACE ORDER
An Address by Rajesh Subramaniam, President, FedEx Canada on October 14, 2004.
In his introductory remarks, Subramaniam says, “..I hope to leave you with one underlying impression: business leaders–many people in this room–must ensure their workplace is a meeting ground for differing and diverse ideas, opinions and perspectives.”
Systemic Racism, Housing, and the Realities of Black Canadians
A video recording of a panel discussion from January 28, 2021. In Toronto’s lowest-income neighbourhoods, 69% of residents are racialized, while 73% of residents in Toronto’s highest income neighbourhoods are white. The increased attention to systemic racism had revealed to the general public what those in the housing industry have known for years: housing in Toronto and across the GTA is highly racialized. Historically, homeownership has helped Canadians advance in society and work to overcome barriers such as the income and wealth gap. However, for Black Canadians, the lack of access to the housing market has and continues to actively limit opportunities for the Black community now, and in generations to come. It is time to address this inequity, but doing so demands that we re-imagine the future shape of the GTA and seize opportunities to build affordable housing while creating a path to ownership for more black families.
Moderator:
Ene Underwood, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity GTA
Panelists/ Speakers:
Stephen Diamond, Chief Executive Officer, DiamondCorp; Mwarigha, Vice-President, Housing & Homelessness Services; Isaac Olowolafe, Founder, Dream Maker Inc.; Board of Directors, Sick Kids Foundation
Black Music and Its Influence on North American Music
A video recording of a panel discussion on February 25, 2021
Moderator Rudy Blair chaired a panel of leading Canadian musicians in a discussion of the history of black music and the way it helped to shape North American music generally and the way it impacted their own work. Rudy was joined by Ron Westray, Oscar Peterson, Chair at York University and renowned trombonist, who brought vast knowledge of black music to the discussion. Juno-award winning vocalist Molly Johnson talked about the way black music traditions inspired her career. Grammy Award winner, Dan Hill brought his deep insights into the roots of black music and shared his perspective on the way it helped to shape his work as a singer/song writer. And Canadian Queen of R&B, Jully Black, shared her experience and the way black music traditions have played a role developing her career as a musician.
