African Canadian
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 1700s and 1800s. 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.
In spite of the great contributions Black Canadians have made, many still face challenges in the society. 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
- Daurene Lewis: First Black woman Mayor in North America
- Elijah McCoy: Inventor, automatic machinery lubricator, lawn sprinkler, the "real McCoy"
- George Dixon: First Black world boxing champion in any weight class
- Willie O'Ree: First Black hockey player in the National Hockey League
Related Topics
References
Referenced By
Hillcrest High School (Ottawa)
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