Black Canadian Firsts
Isaac Phills is the first Black man to receive the Order of Canada serving in the No. 2 Construction Battalion, also known as the Black Battalion during [blank]
World War 2
Who was the first African American Major League Baseball player?
Jackie Robinson
This famous Canadian rapper, actor, and entrepreneur initially gained recognition as an actor on the Canadian teen drama television series “Degrassi: The Next Generation” in 2001-2009
Drake
This black canadian woman civil and women’s right activist challenged racial segregation at a movie theater by refusing to leave a white only area. Also Her face is now on the $10 bill for her actions and her court case was an inspiration pursuit of racial equality
Viola Desmond
When did Martin Luther King Jr give his “I have a dream” speech?
[1954, 1960, 1963]
1963
Abraham Beverley Walker was Canada's First Canadian-Born Black lawyer in what decade? Note, he was also the first law student of any person of color enrolled at UNB
[1880’s, 1900's, 1910's, 1920's]
1880's
Serena Williams won more Grand Slam singles titles than anyone in tennis history, how many did she win?
[7, 16, 19, 23]
23
What decade did Blues music rapidly spread across the United States?
[1840's, 1860's, 1880's, 1900's]
1860's
What year was slavery abolished in Canada?
[1834, 1845, 1866, 1900]
1834
Who was the first black woman to win a grammy?
[Rihanna, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin]
Ella Fitzgerald
During the time of the Underground railroad, Mary Ann Shadd fled to Canada and became the country’s first female [blank]
[pilot, publisher, tailor]
Publisher with her newspaper
He is the first Black Hockey player to play in the NHL. He debuted in 1958 with the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens
[Akim Aliu, Willie O'Ree, Dustin Byfuglien, Tony McKegney]
Willie O’Ree
Toronto born singer, songwriter, and actor is known as “Canada’s Queen of R&B”
[Jully Black, Laila Ali, Diana Ross, Donna Summer]
Jully Black
What year did African Americans first fled to Canada via the Underground Railroad. During this time Attorney General John Beverley Robinson declared that residence in Canada made Black slaves free and that Canadian courts would uphold this.
[1815, 1836, 1850, 1882]
1815
Who said “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
Martin Luther King
Elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1990, this woman was appointed Minister of Community and Social Services, becoming the first Black woman to hold a cabinet position in Canada
[Mary Ann Shadd, Zanana Akande, Viola Desmond]
Zanana Akande
During what year did Jessie Owens, an American track and field athlete, win 4 gold medals at the Berlin Olympic Games.
[1922, 1936, 1940, 1943]
1936
Who was the first Black artist to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
[Aretha Franklin, Tommy Edwards, Ruth Brown, Louis Armstrong]
Tommy Edwards
-The [blank] club in Montreal was a group of Black Canadian women who founded their own club to help organize, feed, shelter,and care for community members in 1902.
[Black Women's Club, French Women's Club, Coloured Women’s Club]
Coloured Women’s Club
In north america, George Crum invented what famous snack in 1853?
[cornflakes, tootsie rolls, potato chips]
Potato chips!
In 1968, he became the first Black Member of Parliament in the House of Commons and also served as the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1985-1991, becoming the first Black person to hold a vice-regal position in Canada. The Government of Canada announced in 2023 that he will be featured prominently on the $20 bill.
Lincoln Alexander
This black female track and field athlete paved the way for young girls in track and field. She was diagnosed with polio and still won 3 gold medals during the 1960 Olympics.
[Wilma Glodean Rudolph, Crystal Dunn, Gabby Douglas, Allyson Felix]
Wilma Glodean Rudolph
Which group became the most successful American vocal group in 1959?
[The Jackson 5, Supremes, The Temptations, Earth Wind & Fire]
Supremes
Black History Month was officially recognized in Canada in 1995. But who introduced this motion for official recognition?
[Martin Luther King Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Lincoln Alexander, Jean Augustine]
Jean Augustine, the first African Canadian woman elected to Parliament
The Black Lives Matter movement began as a hashtag following the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin and the ensuing court case in what year?
[2003, 2010, 2013, 2015]
2013