Before his passing in 2018, Bromley was honoured with the Order of Distinction in Jamaica, Order of Ontario, and was made a member of the Order of Canada.
His life and accomplishments were profiled by Toronto Life in 1988, and ten years later he was awarded the Harmony Award.
Its hard to imagine any award could encompass the strength of spirit he brought to Canada, but they did try.
Racial discrimination was unfortunately common in the Underground Railroad terminus, Dresden, by Bromley's arrival in Canada in 1947. Agitation by Bromley's contemporaries in the National Unity Association of Chatham, Dresden, and North Buxton led to the adoption of those Acts. Bromley's sit-ins to "test" the legislation eventually led to the creation of the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 1961.
Bromley Armstrong was a Jamaican Canadian labour activist. He helped push for affirmation of Ontario's anti-discrimination legislation in the courts, the Fair Employment Practices Act (1951) and Fair Accommodation Practices Act (1954).
He stood calmly in front of a bigoted restaurant owner and demanded service, despite the owner brandishing a cleaver in the kitchen.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bromley-armstrong
https://torontocaribbean.com/the-truth-about-sending-humanitarian-relief-to-jamaica/
"For those in Canada ... leverage diaspora networks, or official diplomatic missions like the Jamaican Consulate in Toronto or the High Commission in Ottawa. Use platforms like https://supportjamaica.gov.jm to pledge cash or in-kind donations, ensuring that ODPEM can verify and coordinate the follow-up."
https://jcgtoronto.ca/melissa/
#BlackHistory #BlackHistoryCanada #HurricaneMelissa #Jamaica
Jamaica is still recovering from hurricane Melissa, something that is going to take years.
Carney says we need to unionize with other middle powers; I say we can get comfortable being moved out of the Imperial Core. Let's build out our network of mutual aid. Canada's very urban, when disaster hits us it will hit a lot of us, just like this did Jamaica. Today them, tomorrow us.
I wish I had heard less about Ben's struggles with steroids. He came up with a coach who was administering them systematically, and the bulk of the shame rightly rests with Charlie Francis.
Ben's career intersects with the IOC's last period of peak transphobia, having been disqualified for his testosterone levels being too high. The myth of T as a PED is wielded against trans women particularly, and Ben was treated shamefully as collateral damage to that end.
At a young age I felt a sense of national pride watching the Olympics; Canada always did well per-capita in medals. As an adult I have a better appreciation for how much Canada's performance came at the expense of countries like Jamaica. Talented athletes like Ben Johnson immigrate here where they often have access to more training resources than back home, and we benefit from their talent during the games. Something we do well to remember in the present.
This year for #BlackHistory Month, I'm again focusing on #BlackHistoryCanada. Specifically Jamaican Canadian history. I think with Jamaica still recovering from last year's devastating hurricane it's valuable to appreciate how deep Canada's history with Jamaica goes.
Today I'm thinking about Ben Johnson, whose name I grew up hearing.
Thank you, Maritza WoΓ«l, for sharing the story of the Underground Railroad, and how many Canadians first arrived in Oakville (less than a half hour drive from where I grew up, who knew?). Maritza was born in Haiti and she and her family moved to Canada when she was 9. At the time of this video she was a law student, but a quick search suggests that she deserves congratulations for graduating and now practicing law.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avz-tWHMeD4&list=PLT9MbfNkf-UjoR-4wYeVWxiyxoIxQPlXF&index=8
I'm pleased to learn of "Song of the Free" (1860), a song about a man from Tennessee escaping to Canada, composed to the tune of "Oh! Susanna" which has 8 verses which each end with the line, "Canada, where colored men are free."
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