Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: Social Issues: Racism

Blog post: Black History Month – Rosa Parks: The Spark That Ignited a Movement
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Written by Susanne Urbina

Each February, Canadians celebrate Black History Month in recognition of the achievements, contributions and struggles of Black people in Canada and their communities.

This year’s theme is “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations”. Throughout this month, we acknowledge the diversity of Black Canadians, Black leadership importance and the legacy being established for future Black generations. For over 400 years, Black Canadians have a been a part of our nation’s narrative.

In 1604, Mathieu Da Costa was the first person of African heritage to arrive with French explorers to what is now Canada. He spoke 5 languages and was instrumental in communicating with the Mik’maq people encountered by the Europeans.

During the mid-to-late 1700’s, most Africans brought to Canada’s east coast were enslaved by English or American settlers, although there were some free Black persons living in the area.

Throughout the 1800’s, many Black communities were established across Canada because of war. Approximately 30,000Black people entered Canada by means of the Underground Railroad. This secret network of routes and hidden shelters allowed enslaved Africans to escape. Nova Scotia’s Black communities were also reinvigorated during and after the War of 1812.

Slavery was abolished in most British colonies and Canada, in 1833 through the “Act on the Abolition of Slavery in the British Empire.”

In 1879, many Black farming communities in the American mid-west who were experiencing inequality and fearing the rise in Ku Klux Klan lynchings, migrated to Alberta.

After Confederation and moving into the 1900’s, more Black communities were founded as immigration policies were reformed. Our civil rights movement was initiated after Viola Desmond, a Halifax businesswoman, reacted to racism, like Rosa Parks’ story. Viola refused to move from her seat in a Roseland theatre, in a “whites-only” section.

Further into the mid-century, the color barrier was broken in the National Hockey League (NHL) when Willie O’Ree from New Brunswick, was drafted to the Boston Bruins, the first Black player to play in the NHL. Our federal government saw the first Black Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, Lincoln Alexander, who was elected in 1968.

Within the last couple of decades, we have seen Black activism and more intersectional identities emerge for racial justice and celebrations of Black history, Black resilience and Black presence in Canada. Serving as the Governor General of Canada from 2005 to 2010, Michaelle Jean’s appointment was historic, as the first Black person to hold this position in Canada. Honorable Greg Fergus was elected as the 38th speaker of the House of Commons, in 2023. These 21st century events are proof of the movement to acknowledge, preserve, and celebrate the diverse contributions of Black Canadians.

The following article retells the Rosa Parks story. As we celebrate Black History Month, one can become more aware and understanding of this rich heritage through stories and events.

Reference

Government of Canada, (2025-01-31).
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html

Rosa Parks: The Spark That Ignited a Movement

Written by Shahina Hanif, ESPC volunteer

What can a single woman do to change history? While there are few instances of revolutions being credited to women of color, Rosa Parks stands out as a pivotal figure. Her courageous act of refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man in segregated Montgomery, Alabama, in the mid-1950s, became a defining moment in the American civil rights movement, paving the way for the African American community (Badertscher, 2005).

Her name resonates with the ideals of equality, justice, and freedom. On December 1^st, 1955, Rosa Parks, refused to give her seat in the “colored” section of a city bus, at a white man’s command, when the seats in the “white only” section was filled up at (Badertscher, 2005). The bus driver had Parks arrested for “disorderly conduct” (Badertscher, 2005), which sent the African American community into a state of indignation.

This act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a fundamental event that lasted over a year and led to a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional (Badertscher, 2005). Rosa Parks’ bravery and the subsequent boycott galvanized the civil rights movement, inspiring countless individuals to stand up against racial injustice.

Rosa Parks’ legacy is a testament to the power of individual action in the face of systemic oppression. Her story reminds us that one person’s courage can ignite a movement and bring about profound change. Today, her name continues to inspire those who fight for equality and justice, proving that the actions of a single person, regardless of their background, can indeed change the course of history.

Upon reflection on Rosa Parks’ legacy, one is reminded of the power of individual courage, and the impact one person can have on the world. Her story inspires us to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. At a time when segregation laws were strictly enforced and racial discrimination was rampant, Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat was not just an act of defiance but a bold statement against an unjust system.

Rosa Parks once said, “I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free, so other people would be also free” (Marie Claire, n.d.). Her words continue to resonate with those who fight for justice and equality. As we honor Rosa Parks’ legacy, let us also commit to standing up against injustice in our own communities.

Rosa Park’s Day is celebrated in several states on February 4^th, her birthday. Other states celebrate her on December 1^st, which is the day she was arrested for her activism. Her story sets the tone for the month of February as we recognize “Black History” month.

Rosa Parks’ legacy can inspire people in our city, Edmonton, to address and combat various forms of inequality. Here are some specific ways her story can resonate and motivate action within our community:
- Rosa Parks’ defiance can inspire Edmontonians to address income inequality by advocating for fair wages, supporting marginalized businesses, and pushing for equitable economic policies (Edmonton Social Planning Council, 2020).
- Her courage reminds us to stand up for Indigenous rights by promoting culture, advocating for better access to services, and addressing systemic issues like over-policing (CBC News, 2021).
- Parks’ legacy highlights the need to challenge racial discrimination through anti-racism training, supporting inclusive policies, and speaking out against microaggressions (Edmonton Social Planning Council, 2020).
- Inspired by Parks, Edmontonians can volunteer, join advocacy groups, and engage with local government to address inequality (CBC News, 2021).
- Her story encourages education on inequality, reading works by Black and Indigenous authors, and promoting awareness through community events (Edmonton Social Planning Council, 2020).
By drawing inspiration from Rosa Parks’ bravery and commitment to justice, individuals in Edmonton can take meaningful actions to address and reduce inequality in their own community. Her legacy serves as a powerful reminder that even small acts of courage can lead to significant change.

Rosa Parks, seated on the bus where her act of defiance became a symbol of resistance and change. Image from, “Rosa Parks” by Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rosa-Parks

References

Badertscher, E. (2005). Rosa Parks. Great Neck Publishing.

Britannica. (n.d.). Rosa Parks. In Britannica. Retrieved January 23, 2025, from
https://www.britannica.com/event/Montgomery-bus-boycott

CBC News. (2021, April 7). Edmonton city council votes to reallocate police funding to community safety programs. CBC News. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/city-council-policing-1.5971499

Edmonton Social Planning Council. (2020, June 5). Statement on the impact of systemic racism on income inequality and low-income households in Edmonton. Edmonton Social Planning Council. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from
https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/2020/06/05/statement-on-the-impact-of-systemic-racism-on-income-inequality-and-low-income-households-in-edmonton/

Marie Claire. (n.d.). Remembering Rosa Parks: 8 Of Her Most Inspiring Quotes. Marie Claire. Retrieved January 23, 2025, from https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/remembering-rosa-parks-her-most-inspiring-quotes-29143
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February 7, 2025
Research Review: Mental Health: A conversation missing black youth

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This qualitative report, Access to Mental Health for Black Youths in Alberta (Salami et al.) is reviewed by Eanimi Agube and was published by Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada.

The qualitative research report Access to mental health for Black youths in Alberta explores the issues with access to mental health services and the perception of mental health among the 129 Black-identifying youths between the age of 16 and 30 that participated in the study.

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February 21, 2023
Vital Signs 2022 – A Look at Systemic Racism in Edmonton

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Edmonton Vital Signs is an annual check-up conducted by Edmonton Community Foundation, in partnership with Edmonton Social Planning Council, to measure how the community is doing.

This Vital Signs report focuses on individual issues, that are timely and important to Edmonton, specifically Systemic Racism. These topics
appeared in many issues of Legacy in Action throughout 2022, and are also presented here in the full issue of Vital Signs 2022.

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A LOOK AT SYSTEMIC RACISM IN EDMONTON – VITAL SIGNS 2022

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December 1, 2022
Vital Topics: A Look at the History of Racism Towards Indigenous & People of Colour in Edmonton

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Edmonton Vital Signs is an annual checkup conducted by Edmonton Community Foundation, in partnership with Edmonton Social Planning Council, to measure how the community is doing. Vital Topics are a quick but comprehensive look at issues that are timely and important to Edmonton.

For this edition, we take a look at A look at the history of racism towards Indigenous & People of Colour in Edmonton. This includes a look at history, residential schools, immigration, and demographics.

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June 1, 2022
Race, Identity, and Social Policy: Significant Works by Black Authors

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By Jenn Rossiter and Sydney Sheloff

February marks Black History Month, a time when we acknowledge the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities throughout history in our province and the country as a whole.

The Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) is acutely aware of the evidence that shows that Black people in Canada, Alberta, and Edmonton face high rates of discrimination and racism. Alongside the efforts from many wonderful non-profits in the city, ESPC advocates for equitable social policies that affect under-served populations, including Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities. Through this work, ESPC aims to support meaningful change and to champion the work that others are doing.

In contribution to Black History Month, the following is a list of notable Black authors who have informed some of ESPC’s efforts in research and education—a few among many. We hope you take time to explore the valuable works produced by these authors.

Desmond Cole

A Toronto-based journalist and author, Cole resigned from the Toronto Star after being asked to choose between objective journalism and personal Black rights advocacy. His first novel, The Skin We’re In, explores racism in Toronto and how activists have resisted and fought for change in a variety of sectors.

We suggest:

Cole, D. (2020). The skin we’re in: A year of Black resistance and power. Doubleday Canada.

Patricia Hill Collins

Collins asserts that our position in the world informs our knowledge: Black women live in a very different world from women who are not Black, and thus have a very unique body of wisdom. People who experience oppression learn about it in acute ways and are in key positions to understand and critique it. Collins points to alternative forms of knowledge; Black people were often barred from institutions, and so would share their knowledge through music, poetry, and art.

We suggest:

Collins, P. H. (2000). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. Routledge.

Collins, P. H. (2004). Learning from the outsider within: The sociological significance of black feminist thought. Social Problems, 33(6), s14–s32. https://doi.org/10.2307/800672

Afua Cooper

Cooper is a Jamaican-born Canadian multidisciplinary scholar and author at Dalhousie University. Her research focuses on the often hidden history of slavery in Canada.

We suggest:

Cooper, A. (2006). The hanging of Angélique: The untold story of Canadian slavery and the burning of Old Montreal. Harper Perennial.

Kimberlé Crenshaw

Crenshaw is an American lawyer, civil rights advocate, philosopher, and leading scholar of critical race theory. She developed the theory of intersectionality, arguing that the experience of a Black woman cannot be understood by discrete analysis of being Black and being a woman, but must consider how all interactions are informed by composite identities within one person (social and political).

We suggest:

Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race a sex: A Black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1),139–167.

Crenshaw, K. (2017). Race liberalism and the deradicalization of racial reform. Harvard Law Review, 130(9), 2298–2319.

Angela Davis

Davis is an academic and political activist. She is well known for her work on prison abolition and was involved with the Black Power Movement and an all-Black branch of the communist party. Davis spent time in prison due to her activism, which affected her work on interrogating the criminal justice system. While Davis’ work focuses on the American justice system, her ideas have been heavily influential to Canadian scholars.

We suggest:

Davis, A. (1981). Women, race, and class. Vintage Books.

Davis, A. (2003). Are prisons obsolete? Seven Stories Press.

Frantz Fanon

Fanon was a psychiatrist and political philosopher from Martinique, known for analyzing colonialism and decolonization through a psychoanalytic lens. His work was highly influential to the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, although he was never directly involved in either. His work The Wretched of the Earth provides a psychiatric and psychological analysis of the dehumanizing effects of colonization and discusses the broader social, cultural, and political implications of establishing a social movement for the decolonization of a people.

We suggest:

Fanon, F. (1963). The wretched of the earth. Grove Press.

Fanon, F. (1967). Black skin: White masks. Grove Press.

bell hooks

The focus of hooks’ writing was the intersectionality of race, capitalism, and gender alongside their ability to produce and perpetuate systems of oppression and class domination. In Ain’t I a Woman hooks explored the low status of Black women, due to the intersection of race and gender oppression, in American society. She also examined the role of Black women and marginalization in the civil rights and suffragette movements.

We suggest:

hooks, b. (1981). Ain’t I a woman: Black women and feminism. South End Press.

hooks, b. (1992). Black looks: race and representation. South End Press.

Ibram X. Kendi

Kendi is known for his book How to Be an Antiracist, in which he argues the only way to undo racism is to identify and dismantle it and the institutions that reinforce it. He is considered a leading scholar of race and discriminatory policy in America.

We suggest:

Kendi, I. X. (2016). Stamped from the beginning: The definitive history of racist ideas in America. Nation Books.

Kendi, I. X. (2019). How to be an antiracist. One World.

Audre Lorde

Lorde was an American writer, feminist, and civil rights activist. Lorde articulated theory through poetry and discussed issues of race, class, age & ageism, as well as sex & sexuality. She also confronted racism that was apparent in mainstream “white” feminism.

We suggest:

Lorde, A. (1984). Sister outsider: Essays and speeches. Crossing Press.

Lorde, A. (1995). The black unicorn: Poems. W. W. Norton & Company.

Robyn Maynard

Maynard is a Black Canadian feminist writer, educator, and activist. She traces the still-living legacy of slavery across multiple institutions, shedding light on the state’s role in perpetuating contemporary Black poverty and unemployment, racial profiling, law enforcement violence, incarceration, immigration detention, deportation, exploitative migrant labour practices, disproportionate child removal, and low graduation rates.

We suggest:

Maynard, R. (2017). Policing Black lives: State violence in Canada from slavery to the present. Fernwood Publishing.

Rinaldo Walcott

Walcott writes on a variety of topics, including Black diaspora cultural studies, gender, and sexuality. In his book Black Like Who? he assesses the role of Black Canadians in defining Canada; in BlackLife, he examines the ways in which the Canadian state ignores violence against Black people.

We suggest:

Walcott, R. (1997). Black like who? Insomniac Press.

Walcott, R. & Abdillahi, I. (2019). BlackLife: Post-BLM and the struggle for freedom. Arbeiter Ring Publishing.

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February 9, 2022
fACTivist Feature Article: Addressing Racialized Populations’ Barriers to Affordable Housing

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Note: this is excerpted from the Spring 2021 edition of our fACTivist publication. The Edmonton Social Planning Council, in collaboration with volunteers and colleagues within the sector, strives to provide stakeholders and community members with updates on ESPC’s activities and projects, including articles and initiatives that address a variety of pertinent issues that affect our community.

Written by Sydney Sheloff and Brett Lambert

Among Canadians who experience homelessness or housing instability, there is a disproportionate number who come from racialized populations—this can include Indigenous peoples, refugees, and newcomers alike. According to data collected by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness’ Homeless Hub, the disparities are glaring.

For comparison, about 1 in 5 racialized families in Canada will live in poverty, while only 1 in 20 non-racialized families experience poverty. [1] Among populations experiencing homelessness, 28.2% of them are members of racialized groups, compared to the Canadian average of 19.1%. [1] While Indigenous peoples make up only 4.3% of the overall Canadian population, they comprise 30.6% of the youth homelessness population. [1]

For refugees and newcomers to Canada, one of the biggest challenges is finding housing that is safe, suitable, and affordable. Across Canada, visible minorities make up 40% of renters in affordable and social housing (compared to 32% in market rentals and 23% in home ownership) while Indigenous peoples make up 9.4% of renters in affordable and social housing (compared to 3.8% of market rentals and 3.1% of home ownership). [2]

Due to long wait times to obtain subsidized housing, these racialized populations may be compelled to look outside of affordable housing options and enter the private housing market. This increases the risk of finding housing that is too expensive, overcrowded, or illegally rented. As a result, they face an increased risk of homelessness and core housing need compared to other groups. About 10% of newcomer youth in Canada experience homelessness. [1]

According to the 2016 federal Census, more than 164,000 households in Alberta are living in unsafe, crowded, and unaffordable housing. [3] As of February 2020, within Edmonton alone nearly 10,000 people were on the wait list for Capital Region Housing’s rental assistance program. [4] Among those experiencing homelessness, as of March 2021, 2,072 people in Edmonton are unhoused, according to Homeward Trust Edmonton. [5] Nearly 60% of them identify as Indigenous. [5]

With this in mind, the need to improve the affordable housing situation couldn’t be more urgent. In response to this intractable problem, the provincial government put together an Affordable Housing Review Panel in the summer of 2020 to work towards solutions. The panel completed its work and submitted a report to the minister of Seniors and Housing on October 5, 2020. The full report was released to the public on December 11, 2020. [Note: The Edmonton Social Planning Council contributed to one of the panel’s engagement sessions with key housing sector stakeholders, in addition to a written submission.]

The panel’s recommendations focused on the need to develop provincial strategic plans for housing, encourage municipalities to develop local affordable housing plans, build the capacity of housing providers, and simplify the application process for tenants. It also recommended privatization of the sector by increasing the role of the private sector and shifting the government’s role from owner and controller to that of partner and funder. The ministry accepted all of the panel’s recommendations.

Knowing the present racial inequities that exist for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) to access housing, will the panel’s recommendations help or hinder the pursuit to close the racial gap?

While there is a lot to dissect and unpack in the panel’s final report, it is encouraging to see it acknowledged that housing solutions are not suitable to a one-size-fits-all approach and that communities across Alberta, along with different segments within those communities, have unique needs to account for. For example, the report highlights that successful programming for Indigenous peoples require the incorporation of cultural sensitivities. Similarly, immigrant and newcomer families may want housing suitable for large intergenerational families.

With that, the panel’s report emphasizes that fairness, equity, and inclusivity need to guide decision-making. Building off of this, the panel sees benefits to housing providers that own and operate their own affordable housing assets because they can more easily address unique housing needs from within the communities they serve, along with other custom solutions to known issues in their respective communities.

This could potentially be a good thing for racialized communities. BIPOC community organizations are likely very well aware of the unique issues that people in their communities face in terms of housing and also likely have unique solutions. For example, in Seattle, a collective of Black LGBTQ people purchased a plot of land in order to give housing to people in need within their community, as well as to push back against gentrification and displacement. They also built a community garden and healing space to address residents’ other needs. Members of the collective, including those who are housed by it, get to make decisions about how their housing is run. Innovative solutions such as these may be limited under the current system.

However, questions arise on whether community organizations have the capacity to own and administer housing. BIPOC communities have faced—and continue to face—social exclusion and economic disenfranchisement, which has limited their resources and power. BIPOC organizations must operate in colonial institutions that have historically oppressed them. Therefore, they may face barriers when attempting to operate housing. Additionally, many of these organizations are already overwhelmed caring for other needs in their community and may not have the time or energy to take on additional housing responsibilities.

While the report does outline the need to ensure sufficient capacity building, more concrete ideas of what capacity development actually looks like is required. Organizations that are Indigenous- or Black-led may need help that differs from that needed than a white-led organization.

An encouraging development is that the panel expressed an interest in rent subsidy programs for those who need temporary support but are not eligible for existing programs. If designed properly, these programs could have the potential to reach some of the most vulnerable populations to access housing, included racialized groups. Of course, this has to be balanced with the knowledge that cuts to rental assistance programs and suspension of housing wait lists occurred within the first year of the United Conservative Party government’s term prior to the formation of this panel (notably, this funding was restored in the latest 2021 provincial budget). Any progress stemming from the panel’s recommendations has to be tempered with the ground that was lost beforehand.

While the report has starts that are good ideas to deal with the unique housing needs of different racial groups, the explanations in this report seem vague and underdeveloped. Moreover, the prospect of the report being amenable to privatization of the affordable housing sector, and shifting governmental roles and responsibilities onto the private sector, is a source of concern. The needs of the most marginalized people seeking to access housing could fall by the wayside.

There are developments within the panel’s report that give reason for hope, but the report does come with important caveats, and the devil will ultimately be in the details.

Sydney Sheloff is Research Officer and Brett Lambert is Community Engagement Coordinator for the Edmonton Social Planning Council.

Sources:

[1] Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. (n.d.). Racialized Communities. Homeless Hub. https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/population-specific/racialized-communities

[2] Claveau, J. (2020). The Canadian Housing Survey, 2018: Core housing need of renter households living in social and affordable housing. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75f0002m/75f0002m2020003-eng.htm

[3] Statistics Canada. (2017, November 17). Core housing need, 2016 census. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/chn-biml/index-eng.cfm

[4] Wyton, M. (2020, February 13). Edmonton housing assistance waitlist balloons in wake of provincial funding cuts. The Edmonton Journal. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-housing-assistance-waitlist-balloons-in-wake-of-provincial-funding-cuts

[5] Homeward Trust Edmonton. (n.d.). Program Data. https://homewardtrust.ca/what-weve-learned/performance-evaluation/

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May 28, 2021