“BLACKS” IN VICTORIA: A VISIBLE MINORITY, AN INVISIBLE HISTORY

Dr. Francis Adu-Febiri

“Blacks” of African heritage have been in Victoria since the 1850s. In 1858 eight hundred (800) Black Americans came to settle in British Columbia on the invitation of James Douglas. Some of these Black pioneers became prominent politicians, manufacturers, and church planters. Mifflin Gibbs, John Deas, Charles and Nancy Alexander are memorable examples of these Black pioneers. Some others formed the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps, thus laying the foundation of policing in Victoria. Perhaps because of the negative construction of their dark skin through the slave trade, colonialism, resource conflict, poverty and the
HIV/AIDs pandemic, Blacks of African heritage have been very visible in Victoria as bodies. Paradoxically, however, in terms of landmarks and voices, Blacks of African heritage have been invisible in Victoria. Apart from scattered tombstones in grave yards and two plaques (one in the inner harbor and one at the Shady
Creek United Church in East Saanich) there is little to show for the presence of Blacks in concrete monumental legacies in the Capital Region District.

Once a year during the Black History Month, a number and variety of events and activities are put on to celebrate the Black African heritage in Victoria. The voices and presence that emerge in this dedicated month virtually vanish immediately after the hyped celebrations. This is mainly because the history celebrated is
spatially invisible. In human society bodies, voices and cultural celebrations are hardly meaningful in the absence of collective spaces that substantiate these representations.

The African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI) is determined to change this history by establishing a comprehensive Africa Heritage Cultural Center in the capital Regional District of Victoria by 2020.

Dr. Francis Adu-Febiri
Sociology Professor and Former Chair, Department of Social Sciences,
Camosun College.
Associate Member, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Victoria.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University.