‘Heroes in the community’: 16 Black Hamiltonians honoured in citywide campaign for Black History Month

They were entrepreneurs, educators, coaches, community leaders and activists.

Denise Brooks, who died in 2020, was a social-service leader and relentless advocate" for the people she served. Bluesman Jackie Washington was Canada's first Black disc jockey before he died in 2009. Lifelong Hamiltonian Julia Washington Berry, a mother of 10 who died in 1950, operated a toll gate at the top of James Street.

Sixteen Black Hamiltonians are being honoured for their contributions with displays across the city through February for Black History Month. Their faces and names will appear banners along James Street North between Barton Street and Strachan, and their biographies on displays at recreation centres, museums and libraries across the city. Twelve HSR buses will bear signage promoting the initiative, We Are Hamilton - Black History Remembered," for several months.

These influential Hamiltonians are gone, but their legacies live on through their impact, communities and families.

I want to cry," said Kelly Foster, whose grandfather, Rev. Robert Foster, can be found on a lamp post on the east side of James near LiUNA Station. He's well deserved of it."

Born in the U.S., Foster was a businessperson, sports coach and pastor. He was the first chaplain at Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks, and pastor at Stewart Memorial Church, one of Hamilton's earliest Black congregations. He was also co-founder and first president the Afro Canadian Caribbean Association (ACCA), the city's longest Black-serving organization, according to the city's website.

Kelly said he was very involved," both in the community and at home. When her father - Bob's son - died in 1972, her grandfather became ever-central in her life.

He became very instrumental to me and my brother," she said. He was the rock of our family."

Anthony Foster has often heard that his great-grandparents were heroes in the community."

Anthony - or Big A," as his great-grandfather called him - said he's thrilled to see Bob, a positive person" who always wore a smile, being remembered for his work.

It makes me feel proud to be a Foster," he said in a message.

The initiative, developed by the Hamilton Black History Council in partnership with Black-led organizations and the City of Hamilton, will be formally unveiled at city hall on Monday. Several members of the Foster family plan to attend the event.

Current ACCA president Evelyn Myrie said the city-funded Black History Month initiative is a first in Hamilton, and something the organization has spent years advocating for.

That's an amazing accomplishment, even though it should have been done a long time ago," Myrie said, adding that the honourees were selected by a coalition of Black-led organizations. This is 16 people that we chose, we curated and said they need to be acknowledged for their contributions to Hamilton."

Myrie said Monday's speakers - which include Myrie, Terri Bedminster of Refuge Newcomer Health, Kojo Damptey of Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion and McMaster's Gary Warner - will address different topics, including background on the initiative, an introduction to each of the Hamiltonians being honoured and developing a strategy for dismantling anti-Black racism.

It's not just about Black history," she said. It's about how do we create an environment where people feel welcome, respected and valued."

Here are the 16 Black Hamiltonians honoured:

• Anita Isaac (1939-2020), educator and health-care worker.

• Jack Jackie" Washington (1919-2009), musician and Canada's first Black disc jockey.

• Sophia Burthen Pooley (c1772-c1860), slave to Haudenosaunee/Mohawk leader Thayendanegea/Joseph Brant and Ancaster's Samuel Hatt, legally freed in 1834.

• Cynthia Taylor (1925-2002), educator.

• Denise J. Brooks (1956-2020), executive director of Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre.

• Eleanor Rodney (1938-2020), teacher and founder of the youth organization African Caribbean Cultural Potpourri Inc. (ACCPI).

• Ethilda (Tillie) Johnson (1929-2016), entrepreneur and honorary doctor of law.

• Fleurette Osborne (1927-2019), activist and author.

• John Christie Holland (1882-1954), pastor and railway porter.

• Julia Washington Berry (c1856-c1950), mother and toll keeper.

• Neville Nunes (1931 -2016), educator who developed curriculum on the area's Black heritage.

• Norman Pinky" Lewis (1898-1977), Tiger Cats and McMaster University trainer.

• Ray Johnson (1934-2006), McMaster Marauders football coach.

• Rev. Robert Foster (1920-2002), businessperson, coach and pastor.

• Vince Hall (1936- 2002), community leader.

• Wilma Morrison (1929-2020), Black heritage preservationist.

The city hall event takes place Jan. 30 starting at noon with local vendors and a steel-pan performance by Luckystickz. At 1:15 p.m., We Are Hamilton - Black History Remembered" will be unveiled.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com