Edmonton City as Museum Project ECAMP

And Still We Rise: A Black Presence in Alberta, late 1800s – 1970s

Browse the Exhibition

  • And Still We Rise: A Black Presence in Alberta, late 1800s – 1970s
  • An Early Presence: Individuals and Single Families, 1900 – 1920
    • Arrivals in Late 1800s
    • Alberta’s Early Black Settlements
    • Sustained Opposition to Black Immigration
    • Social Exclusion
  • 1921-1945: Community Formation, Activism & Citizenship
    • “Our Negro Citizens” Newspaper Columns
    • ONC: Capturing Everyday Life & Challenging Stereotypes
  • 1945 – 1970: Immigration & Social Change
    • Changing Social Conditions, Occupations & Immigration
    • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
    • 1960s: Emigration from the Caribbean
    • Emigration of Teachers from the Caribbean to Alberta, 1960s
  • About the exhibition
  • Resources for further learning
  • And Still We Rise: A Black Presence in Alberta, late 1800s – 1970s
  • An Early Presence: Individuals and Single Families, 1900 – 1920
    • Arrivals in Late 1800s
    • Alberta’s Early Black Settlements
    • Sustained Opposition to Black Immigration
    • Social Exclusion
  • 1921-1945: Community Formation, Activism & Citizenship
    • “Our Negro Citizens” Newspaper Columns
    • ONC: Capturing Everyday Life & Challenging Stereotypes
  • 1945 – 1970: Immigration & Social Change
    • Changing Social Conditions, Occupations & Immigration
    • Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
    • 1960s: Emigration from the Caribbean
    • Emigration of Teachers from the Caribbean to Alberta, 1960s
  • About the exhibition
  • Resources for further learning

Featured Collection

1945 – 1970: Immigration & Social Change

Changing Social Conditions, Occupations & Immigration

Dr. Jennifer Kelly

During this time, we begin to see a change in the demographics of the Alberta-based Black Canadian community as folks who came from the United States in the early 1900s begin to encounter people recently arrived from the United States, often as athletes, and those who were arriving in increasing numbers from the Caribbean.

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Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

Dr. Jennifer Kelly

Beginning in 1939, American A. Philip Randolph visited Canada to assist with organizing an International section of the U.S.-based Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). The catalyst for this separate organization of workers was the racism that employees of African descent faced on the railway.

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Emigration of Teachers from the Caribbean to Alberta, 1960s

Dr. Jennifer Kelly

Within the larger group of Caribbean immigrants there were a number of internationally educated teachers who came from different islands in order to fill the need for teachers in Alberta.

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1960s: Emigration from the Caribbean

Dr. Jennifer Kelly

Before the early 1960s, few immigrants of African descent were allowed into Canada. Because of racist white preferred immigration rules and regulations, “admittance of ‘coloured or partly coloured persons’ was restricted to certain classes of close relatives of Canadian citizens and cases deemed as having exceptional merit.”

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See more of this exhibit

  • And Still We Rise: A Black Presence in Alberta, late 1800s – 1970s
  • About the exhibition
  • Resources for further learning

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An initiative of the Edmonton Heritage Council.

The Edmonton City as Museum Project acknowledges that ᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ / amiskwacîwâskahikan / Edmonton is located in Treaty 6 territory, and is a traditional meeting ground, gathering place, and travelling route of the Nêhiyawak (Cree), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Dene, and Nakota Sioux; whose resiliency, along with their histories, languages, and cultures, continues to enrich our shared heritage.

© 2023 Edmonton City as Museum Project ECAMP