Black Canadians’ achievements in many fields, including politics, are often marginalized, missing, or erased from the “official” historical record. Media coverage frequently ignores Black Canadian candidates, and electoral records provide no information on candidate race. In response, Black Canadians in Electoral Politics documents the experiences of Black Canadian candidates and legislators in elected office in Canada.
Through the first ever national survey of Black Canadians in politics, archival research, and interviews with Black candidates and legislators, this project is producing the most comprehensive account of Black Canadians’ participation and inclusion in Canadian politics. This work is informing the development of evidence-based tools to increase diversity in politics, as well as a podcast and educational resources that will tell the stories of Black Canadians in electoral politics.
Partners
Black Canadians in Electoral Politics is a partnership between Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada. It was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council through a Partnership Engage Grant and a Connection Grant, the Canada Research Chairs Program, Carleton University, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. Additional support was provided by the Samara Centre for Democracy.
Operation Black Vote Canada (OBVC) is a grassroots, non-profit organization that educates and advocates for Black Canadians’ engagement in politics. Since its inception in 2004, OBVC has educated, motivated, and advocated for Black Canadians’ participation in Canada’s government, agencies, boards, commissions, civil service and political processes at all levels. This work has included training more than 100 Black Canadians for public office. Black Canadians in Electoral Politics builds on this foundation with the aim of increasing the evidence base and creating additional resources to increase the number of Black Canadians in politics.