Sydney Poitier: (February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was a Bahamian-American actor, film director and diplomat born in Miami, Florida. When Sydney Poitier moved to New York he couldn’t read and was somewhat shamed by a man who basically told him he’ll never be anything more than a dishwasher. It was obvious to him that he needed to learn how to read and with the help of friends and an acute awareness of his surroundings he educated himself and made more than something out of nothing. [Read more…]
Eleanor Collins – Canadian Jazz Artist
Eleanor Collins aka “The First Lady of Canadian Jazz” was born Elnora Ruth Proctor on November 21, 1919, in Edmonton, Alberta. Her parents were part of the migration of Black settlers from Oklahoma who responded to the Canadian government’s promotion to settle in the prairies in 1910.
In 1948 there was a petition to keep Eleanor’s family out of a white neighbourhood in Burnaby, BC. Rather than let the wall of racism divide her from the community, she used her gift of music to build a bridge amongst the people.
Muhammad Ali
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. aka Muhammad Ali aka The Greatest – Born in Louisville Kentucky (January 17, 1942 – June 3 2016)
“I ain’t draft dodging. I ain’t burning no flag. I ain’t running to Canada. I’m staying right here. You want to send me to jail? Fine, you go right ahead. I’ve been in jail for 400 years. I could be there for 4 or 5 more, but I ain’t going no 10,000 miles to help murder and kill other poor people. If I want to die, I’ll die right here, right now, fightin’ you, if I want to die.” ~ Muhammad Ali
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