Ange K.

Rosemary Brown

Ange K.
Anglophone North School District Regional Heritage Fair
Miramichi, NB

Rosemary Brown was the first Canadian black women to enter politics and the first woman to be elected in any provincial legislative. She was born in Jamaica to a political minded family and moved to Canada in 1951. She studied social work at the McGill University and the University of British Columbia.

Brown fought for equality and human rights and broke down barriers against women and black people in Canada. She gained support for projects that promoted the economic, political and social advancement of women in developing countries.

Brown had many accomplishments.  She was named chief commissioner of the Ontario Human rights commission and was CEO of the advocacy group MATCH international women’s fund. She was a member of the legislative assembly and ran for leadership for the federal NDP (New Democratic Party). She helped found the British Columbia Association for the Advancement of Colored people (BCAACP) to help advocate for housing, employment and human rights legislation.                

She was awarded with United Nations’ Human Rights fellowship and later received the Order of British Columbia in 1995 and the Order of Canada in 1996. Her work and activism paved the way for other women, especially black women to enter politics.

One of her famous quotes was “To be black and female in a society which is both racist and sexist, is to be in the unique position of having nowhere to go but up”. Brown wrote several books like Being Brown in 1989.

Unfortunately, she died at the age of 73 in, April 2003. In honor of her legacy, two parks in Canada bear her name; one in Montreal, Quebec and one in Vancouver, British Columbia. She died at a youthful age, but her hard work and activism still makes a difference in our society.

What sources and evidence did you consult for your project? What different perspectives did they provide on your topic?

I visited Canadian history sites like Canadian Encyclopedia, Historica Canada and CBC News. I also used the Google search engine.

What is the historical significance of your topic?

She broke any barriers and encouraged Black women and women in general to feel free to act and get engaged in Canada. She was the first Black women to be elected in any provincial legislative assembly. Now today, there are many women involve in politics with one of the being Marci Len. These women continue to make a movement and impact our society.

Why did you choose this topic? 

I chose this topic because I am a black girl from Cameroon, and this topic really inspired me considering the fact that Rosemary brown was a role model and determined woman whose legacy made a difference in her time and that is what want to do in my life, proving that I can be black and a woman and be successful.