Shadow workers engaged in the community or public figures, many black women have played a crucial role in Quebec society throughout the 20th century.e century. Désirée Rochat, postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Oral History and Digital Stories at Concordia University, reveals their still little-known story.
Since the beginning of the last century, black women have positioned themselves as true precursors of community action. They are the ones who are at the origin of several groups and who work to create a real social fabric. Thus, in 1902, Anne Greenup and other black women immigrating from the United States founded the Colored Women’s Club of Montreal (CWCM) to meet the needs of their community.
“It is the very first formal organization of black women in Canada,” emphasizes Désirée Rochat. And these women will be involved in the other institutions that are formed over time. »
They notably supported the creation of the first black congregational church in Montreal, the Union United Church, then the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and the Negro Community Center of Montreal (NCC) in the 1920s. anchor locally and allow the black community to come together, organize and help each other in a social context that is not favorable to them.
“When we look at the history of black women, we clearly see the racist side of immigration policies. In 1910-1911, for example, an agreement was made with Guadeloupe to recruit women as domestic servants and when they arrived, they faced a whole media barrage rooted in very deep racist fears,” illustrates the researcher.
In the 1950s and 1960s, other policies were put in place to bring nurses from the Antilles, and many refugees fled Haiti and the Duvalier dictatorship. But here again, the conditions for their arrival in Quebec and the working conditions offered are poor and many turn to community organizations for help.
Knowledge carriers
In this difficult context, access to education and the preservation of their culture are not self-evident for black communities in Quebec. And here too, women play an essential role.
“Women have had a pretty phenomenal role in terms of the transmission of knowledge. In addition to creating social bonds, it is very often they who have developed educational programs, created community libraries, given literacy courses for newcomers, written community bulletins or other writings,” explains Désirée Rochat. .
Within the NCC, the researcher cites the example of Daisy Peterson Sweeney, the sister of the famous jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson, who gave piano lessons to an entire generation of children. Other women will put their energy into preserving their original culture by creating programs to continue to transmit and keep their languages and traditions alive.
Public figures, political action
In addition, several women involved in the community network access more public functions. This is for example the case of Judge Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré, who, after working in the community field, became the very first black person to access the judiciary in Quebec. Involved since the beginning of her career in issues related to human rights, she notably held the position of president of the Council of Cultural Communities and Immigration in the 1980s.
“When we look at the archives of a place like the NCC or like the Maison d’Haïti, we realize that she was very involved. Her public work was firstly anchored in community commitment,” recounts Désirée Rochat.
Likewise, Vera Jackson, who was the first black woman to run for municipal elections in Montreal in the 1970s, had previously worked in the community sector.
The researcher also cites the politician, feminist and educator Adeline Magloire Chancy, who was closely linked to the Maison d’Haïti and who advocated for the conservation and recognition of the Creole language.
A precious heritage
If their work was done so much in the shadows or on a hyperlocal scale, black women undoubtedly leave a precious legacy in Quebec. “It’s a multiple heritage,” emphasizes Désirée Rochat. First, they leave an important tradition of mobilization and community work in which new groups of activists are part today. But they also participated in forging an intellectual tradition by being active in broader political debates, whether on the question of racism, women’s rights or education. »
But much of their history remains to be discovered, believes the researcher, and new stories could emerge by looking more closely at the archives that they themselves created in community organizations and which would benefit from being studied.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.