WWI and WWIIWWI and WWIIAfrican Canadian RolesAfrican Canadian Roles

What was WWI?What was WWI? It was known as First World War, the Great War, and

"The War To End All Wars”

It occurred in Europe between 1914 and 1918.

Nine million soldiers died

Had a major impact on the 20th century.

Canada fought for Britain

Black Recruitment in WWIBlack Recruitment in WWI

When WWI broke out Blacks attempted to When WWI broke out Blacks attempted to join the military but they were rejected. join the military but they were rejected.

Black Soldiers In WWIBlack Soldiers In WWI

There was a resistance and reluctance on the part of There was a resistance and reluctance on the part of the Canadian military to accept blacks into the armed the Canadian military to accept blacks into the armed forces. They did not think that white soldiers wanted forces. They did not think that white soldiers wanted to fight along side black soldiers.to fight along side black soldiers.

Despite these obstacles, Despite these obstacles,

blacks volunteered and urgedblacks volunteered and urged

other blacks to join.other blacks to join. Right = Recruiting officeRight = Recruiting office

in Canadain Canada

This later turned into a problem as more soldiers were This later turned into a problem as more soldiers were needed. Due to the humiliation of rejection, it was needed. Due to the humiliation of rejection, it was hard to recruit black soldiers when needed.hard to recruit black soldiers when needed.

The white officers had the mentality that this was a The white officers had the mentality that this was a “white man’s war”. They were in charge of choosing “white man’s war”. They were in charge of choosing who was allowed in, therefore many Blacks were not who was allowed in, therefore many Blacks were not allowed in.allowed in.

Not ALL blacks who attempted to enlist were Not ALL blacks who attempted to enlist were rejected. Many quit their jobs and left their families rejected. Many quit their jobs and left their families only to be rejected by the white officers. They would only to be rejected by the white officers. They would harass them and send them back home where when harass them and send them back home where when they arrived they would have to try and pick up the they arrived they would have to try and pick up the pieces of their life.pieces of their life.

““We don’t want a checker board We don’t want a checker board Army”Army”

Was a comment made by many in the army stating Was a comment made by many in the army stating that they did not want an integrated army. that they did not want an integrated army.

As Colonel Ogilvie reported in a letter to Council As Colonel Ogilvie reported in a letter to Council Headquarters, “Several cases of coloured applicants Headquarters, “Several cases of coloured applicants for enlistment have been reported on by Officers for enlistment have been reported on by Officers Commanding units and the universal opinion is that if Commanding units and the universal opinion is that if this were allowed it would do much harm, as white this were allowed it would do much harm, as white men here will not serve in the same ranks with men here will not serve in the same ranks with negroes or coloured persons.”negroes or coloured persons.”

This displayed the attitudes that were prevalent in the This displayed the attitudes that were prevalent in the military and society at the time. military and society at the time.

Construction No. 2 BattalionConstruction No. 2 Battalion Black Leaders started to put pressure on the Black Leaders started to put pressure on the

government to form an all black battalion.government to form an all black battalion. In 1916, The No. 2 Construction Battalion was In 1916, The No. 2 Construction Battalion was

formed.formed.

No. 2 Construction BattalionNo. 2 Construction Battalion

The No. 2 Construction Battalion was the first The No. 2 Construction Battalion was the first and only all Black Battalion.and only all Black Battalion.

There were approximately 1000 men in this There were approximately 1000 men in this battalion. battalion. 500 of the men were from Nova 500 of the men were from Nova Scotia. Later some Americans joined. Scotia. Later some Americans joined.

It was based out of Truro/Pictou. It was based out of Truro/Pictou. From 1917-1919 they spent time building From 1917-1919 they spent time building

railroads for the final attacks against Germany. railroads for the final attacks against Germany.

No. 2 Construction BattalionNo. 2 Construction Battalion

They were not allowed to fight but rather help They were not allowed to fight but rather help make fighting easier for whites with make fighting easier for whites with construction. construction.

They did meet many important needs of the They did meet many important needs of the war. i.e. providing lumber to reinforce the war. i.e. providing lumber to reinforce the trenches. trenches.

The battalion disbanded in 1920. Battalions The battalion disbanded in 1920. Battalions are not separated on race or ethnicity anymore. are not separated on race or ethnicity anymore.

No. 2 Construction BattalionNo. 2 Construction Battalion

ConscriptionConscription In 1917, there were many causalities in France.In 1917, there were many causalities in France.

It was clear that the troops overseas needed more It was clear that the troops overseas needed more reinforcements and Ottawa passed the Military Service Act.reinforcements and Ottawa passed the Military Service Act.

The Military Service Act became law, which was conscription.The Military Service Act became law, which was conscription. Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of citizens for Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of citizens for

military service.military service.

This act made every British subject between the ages 20 – 45 This act made every British subject between the ages 20 – 45 liable for service in the Canadian Military, black or white.liable for service in the Canadian Military, black or white.

Conscription Conscription

Was seen as a slap in the face to Blacks as Was seen as a slap in the face to Blacks as they had previously tried to enter the military they had previously tried to enter the military but were not allowed. Now they were being but were not allowed. Now they were being forced to enter. forced to enter.

Nova Scotia ConscriptionNova Scotia Conscription

““I was around 18 years of age and I had gone I was around 18 years of age and I had gone to Dartmouth with my horse and wagon to pick to Dartmouth with my horse and wagon to pick up some groceries. The conscription officers up some groceries. The conscription officers grabbed me for the army. My brother-in-law, grabbed me for the army. My brother-in-law, Harry Sparks, told them I was too young. They Harry Sparks, told them I was too young. They took both of us to Halifax. My father came in took both of us to Halifax. My father came in and they let me go. Harry Sparks was and they let me go. Harry Sparks was conscripted into the army and ended up conscripted into the army and ended up overseas.” - John Crawley of North Preston. overseas.” - John Crawley of North Preston.

““In Sydney, after the war started, quite a few In Sydney, after the war started, quite a few Blacks volunteered for active service and were Blacks volunteered for active service and were told point blank, “we don’t want you, this is a told point blank, “we don’t want you, this is a White mans war”. However, around 1917, the White mans war”. However, around 1917, the Canadian Army was up against it, they had Canadian Army was up against it, they had lost a lot of men in France. At that point they lost a lot of men in France. At that point they were willing to take anyone. Conscription were willing to take anyone. Conscription came in and they took Blacks and Whites. You came in and they took Blacks and Whites. You had no choice you had to go.” - Issac Phills. had no choice you had to go.” - Issac Phills.

1920’s-30’s1920’s-30’sRoaring 20’s and Dirty 30’sRoaring 20’s and Dirty 30’s

In the 1920’s Canada was in a state of In the 1920’s Canada was in a state of economic growth. economic growth.

Many Blacks started to move to cities where Many Blacks started to move to cities where there was strong Black Pride and less fear of there was strong Black Pride and less fear of racism. racism.

One of the issues that arose of that Blacks One of the issues that arose of that Blacks were unable to afford the high cost of rent and were unable to afford the high cost of rent and had to share homes with many families in run had to share homes with many families in run down areas. Ghettos began to develop. down areas. Ghettos began to develop.

1920’s1920’s

The 18th Amendment to The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution the U.S. Constitution banned the manufacture, banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation sale, and transportation of alcohol. of alcohol.

Many people from the Many people from the USA started to take the USA started to take the train to Montreal on train to Montreal on weekends for weekends for entertainment.entertainment.

MontrealMontreal

In the 1920’s, black musicians and dancers In the 1920’s, black musicians and dancers became very popular around the world. Louis became very popular around the world. Louis Armstrong was the most popular musician Armstrong was the most popular musician amongst white and black fans.amongst white and black fans.

Because of prohibition in the USA, popular Because of prohibition in the USA, popular black entertainers started to perform in black entertainers started to perform in Montreal.Montreal.

Montreal was then referred to as “Little Montreal was then referred to as “Little Harlem” or “The Canadian Harlem”Harlem” or “The Canadian Harlem”

MontrealMontreal

Blacks entertainers Blacks entertainers played at white only played at white only night clubs that did not night clubs that did not allow black fans.allow black fans.

However, black night However, black night clubs started to open up clubs started to open up and became very and became very successful.successful.

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

In the late 1920s, Canada’s economy and stock In the late 1920s, Canada’s economy and stock exchanges were booming. From 1921 to the autumn exchanges were booming. From 1921 to the autumn of 1929, the level of stock prices increased more than of 1929, the level of stock prices increased more than three times. But these days came to a swift end with three times. But these days came to a swift end with the stock market crash on Black Tuesday, October 29, the stock market crash on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, in New York, Toronto, Montréal and other 1929, in New York, Toronto, Montréal and other financial centres in the world. Shareholders panicked financial centres in the world. Shareholders panicked and sold their stock for whatever they could get.and sold their stock for whatever they could get.

Overnight, individuals and companies were ruinedOvernight, individuals and companies were ruined

The crash set off a chain of events that The crash set off a chain of events that plunged Canada and the world into a decade-plunged Canada and the world into a decade-long depression. It was the beginning of the long depression. It was the beginning of the Dirty Thirties.Dirty Thirties.The problems of the Great Depression affected The problems of the Great Depression affected virtually every group of Canadians. No group virtually every group of Canadians. No group was harder hit than African Canadians. By was harder hit than African Canadians. By 1932, approximately half of black Canadians 1932, approximately half of black Canadians were out of work. were out of work.

Black Canadians were first to lose their jobs Black Canadians were first to lose their jobs and the last in line to receive items from food and the last in line to receive items from food banks and shelters. banks and shelters.

Black Canadian PortersBlack Canadian Porters A porter was one of the best jobs for a Black Canadian. It A porter was one of the best jobs for a Black Canadian. It

gave them pride and respect in the community. This was gave them pride and respect in the community. This was because it brought steady money in. because it brought steady money in.

They were also regarded as leaders in the community for their They were also regarded as leaders in the community for their ability to unite people across the country. ability to unite people across the country.

They were the least powerful people on the trains. Every They were the least powerful people on the trains. Every white employee on the train had the ability to fire a Black white employee on the train had the ability to fire a Black person. person.

White people brought their racism on the trains and treated White people brought their racism on the trains and treated Blacks as inferiorBlacks as inferior

Many porters were fired for punching passengers in the mouth Many porters were fired for punching passengers in the mouth for treating them rudely.for treating them rudely.

They developed a union and gave themselves power. They developed a union and gave themselves power.

KKK KKK

By 1929 the KKK was in most provinces in Canada. By 1929 the KKK was in most provinces in Canada. They had newspapers and supported campaigns of They had newspapers and supported campaigns of

white supremacist politicians. They also used direct white supremacist politicians. They also used direct action, such as burning crosses to intimidate Black action, such as burning crosses to intimidate Black people. people.

1926 the KKK used dynamite to damage a Church in 1926 the KKK used dynamite to damage a Church in Barrie, ON. This caused a public outrage and the Barrie, ON. This caused a public outrage and the KKK fell apart in Barrie. KKK fell apart in Barrie.

The KKK also fell apart after the Great DepressionThe KKK also fell apart after the Great Depression

World War IIWorld War II 1939-1945

It was a war of racism

Conflict on all continents except for the two Americas

Most widespread war ever experienced

Over 100 million soldiers from 61 nations

In WWII, the units were integrated but racism In WWII, the units were integrated but racism was very evident. was very evident.

The Second World War didn’t end racism. In The Second World War didn’t end racism. In fact, many black soldiers went overseas to fact, many black soldiers went overseas to fight for their country only to return and be fight for their country only to return and be denied their old jobs. denied their old jobs.

WWII IronyWWII Irony

There is a very noticeable case of irony in the efforts There is a very noticeable case of irony in the efforts of Canadian soldiers fighting in WWII. of Canadian soldiers fighting in WWII.

Although they were sent overseas to fight against Although they were sent overseas to fight against racism and tyranny of Adolf Hitler, they were racism and tyranny of Adolf Hitler, they were actually leaving a country in which racial problems actually leaving a country in which racial problems still existed.still existed.

The black soldiers left their country to fight for the The black soldiers left their country to fight for the freedom, while nobody was fighting for their own freedom, while nobody was fighting for their own freedom.freedom.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Black Soldiers have played an important role Black Soldiers have played an important role in the history of Canada. in the history of Canada.