Canada is often recognized for its diverse nature that is hard to come by, whether it is through our multiple cultures, ethnicities or languages. Many individuals have helped define this diverse heritage and identity through their achievements and contributions including black Canadians. During Black History Month, we are able to take some time to fully celebrate and appreciate these individuals that have made Canada the prosperous nation it is today.

Mary Ann Shadd, though not often heard of in schools, was a trailblazer for not only black Canadians but women as well. Born to activist parents during the times of slavery, Shadd followed those heading for freedom in Canada and settled in Windsor. She wrote educational booklets and opened an integrated school for anyone who could afford to attend, seeing as how education was not publicly provided at that time. After later moving to Toronto, she began the Provincial Freeman newspaper to promote the success of black people who lived in Canada. By doing so, she became the first black woman in North America to publish a newspaper. She then moved back to the United States and attended Howard University, being the first black woman to complete a law degree there. She then joined efforts to allow women the right to vote and was herself the first black woman to vote in a national election. Through her initiatives, women not only gained respect in a field dominated by men at the time, but also earned equal rights.

Similar to Mary Ann Shadd, Daniel G. Hill was a human rights specialist, historian and public servant who was prominent in the movement to end racial discrimination in Canada. He moved to Canada in the 1950s for graduate studies and after graduation became the first director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Hill and his wife Donna, along with other educators, later co-founded the Ontario Black History Society, which was the first major public organization in Canada to focus on the history of people of African descent. His innovative tactics were widely duplicated throughout Canada and other countries as well.

Both Mary Ann Shadd and Daniel G. Hill have made it possible for youth to have the opportunities that we do. Without their contributions, the rights that I have today may not have been made possible. Herbert H. Carnegie is akin to the aforementioned black Canadians, who along with his brother Ossie and Manny McIntyre overcame racism by becoming the first all-black line in semi-professional hockey. He also created the Future Aces Philosophy, which was designed to help youth develop skills that would help them throughout their lives and encourage responsible citizenship. These traits have been implemented in schools across Canada over the years.

These individuals are only three of a large number of black Canadians that have contributed to Canada’s rich history. They deserve to be recognized, commended and appreciated for what they have done, whether it is political like Lincoln Alexander or musical like Oscar Peterson. Canada is what it is today for all its citizens because of them and Black History Month is just one of the ways we can say thank you.

The essays submitted pursuant to the RBC^® Black History Month Student Essay Competition and provided herein are the original work of the students who have entered the Competition. Royal Bank of Canada assumes no responsibility for material that is false, inaccurate or violates or infringes upon the rights of third parties, including privacy and intellectual property rights.