The Congress of Black Women and the Pioneers' Gala

Last night at the Pioneers' Gala, put on by the Manitoba Chapter of the Congress of Black Women, we honoured the contributions of two Canadians, Abraham Shadd and Rosemary Brown. Abraham Shadd played an important role in the Underground Railway which helped to move escaped slaves to freedom in Canada. Rosemary Brown was the first black woman elected to a Legislature in Canada.

In a speech in 1973, Rosemary Brown put it this way: "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." Much has changed since 1973, and we now have a Governor General in Canada, Michaelle Jean, who is a black woman. And one day we will have a Premier and a Prime Minister in Canada who is a black woman.

I like Rosemary Brown's turn of phrase for another reason - being in third position, the Manitoba Liberal Party also has nowhere to go but up.

In the top photo, Sheila Shadd, Tracey Shadd Robinson and Katherine Brown pose with prints of Canadian stamps honouring Abraham Shadd and Rosemary Brown. Tracey Shadd Robinson is a great granddaughter of Abraham Shadd. Sheila Shadd is her mother. Katherine Brown is the granddaughter of Rosemary Brown.

The bottom photo features the Chair of the Pioneers' Gala - Dr. June James. Beside her is Selina Beiber who helped with organizing the Gala and presented the Vote of Thanks and the Closing Remarks at the end of the evening.