As Black History Month comes to a close, it leaves me wondering if it makes an impact. Are the messages heard? Do young people get it?
I love old time radio (OTR), and my all time favourite is Jack Benny. When Eddie Anderson was hired to play Rochester in 1937, he became the first African American to have a staring role on radio.
Though technically Rochester was Jack Benny’s valet, there was never any doubt that the character, and the actor himself, was an equal. Sharing top billing from the start, he was one of the most beloved members of the cast. I’d actually challenge that he got bigger applause and greater responses on his entrances than anyone else.
Eddie Anderson broke though more racial barriers in than any one in popular media, until Nichelle Nichols, as Lieutenant Uhura, took control of communications on Star Trek and kissed Captain Kirk.
Rochester also set the prototype for wisecracking characters to come, from The Jeffersons to Good Times to Sanford and Son to Benson to The Cosby Show to Family Matters to The Fresh Prince of Bell Air. But do people remember that? Do we give him credit for it?
But let’s get closer to home.
Or that his son, Anderson, was the first Black man to graduate from the University of Toronto’s prestigious medical school and became the 1st Black doctor licensed in Canada. He was also a close friend of Abraham Lincoln. Yes, that Abraham Lincoln; and he was among those who stood vigil at the president’s deathbed.
So where’s the disconnect? Where did we lose that thread of our history and more importantly, why aren’t we being reminded?
Hi Geneva. You can try emailing him at this address: mike.filey@sunmedia.ca
Hello, I am doing some work on the black history of toronto and would love knowing how to connect with the historian, Mike Filey you mentioned. Would you know? Thank you!
“Lincoln’s shawl, Lincoln’s shawl
That was the very best gift of all
The man became a hero when he heard the call
And they gave to him
Lincoln’s shawl.”
I will never forget that song, that show or that man. TK taught us all so much.
Great column, Racheal, as usual. The Toronto Star did run some informative “Black History” columns this month but much more is needed about all our city’s culture–all year. Remember when TK did his play about Abbott? Too bad Smile Theatre productions aren’t available to schools because of, among other things, budget cuts. The kids’ books about Black History are also not being bought for the disappearing school libraries. Yikes!
Wow, Racheal. I had no idea. You are right, how could it be that we don’t know and celebrate this? The history of Wilson Ruffin Abbott and his son is amazing. I am going to make sure to pass that along to my kids. Thanks for sharing. I am also going to check in with them to see if they even did anything in school around Black History Month because I didn’t hear it from them. In fact, I actually thought it was only in the States.
There is so much fascinating history from so many cultures in Canada. I wish we celebrated it more, and that our children learned more about it in school.
I don’t know why so much history is overlooked… perhaps because “black history” often seems to denote an American-ness that feels easier to separate our Canadian selves from. Of course, we all know of some shady activities in our own country, but when compared with the scale of how things occurred in the States, it feels effortless to gloss over it, and forget. And the especially sad part is that there’s so much to feel good about, like the men you described above. It’s a shame, really.
Thanks for this Racheal! I had no idea about our Canadian Black History. This is great information. I’m going to tell my kids so they can share with their class!
So informative!!! I can’t stand when history is forgotten!