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Black history in Canada is often treated as an after-thought, not a foundation. Dr. Afua Cooper (OISE MA 1991, PhD 2000) has spent her career pushing back against that idea. A professor of history and women’s studies at the University of Toronto and a proud three-time alum, Cooper’s work places Black history where it belongs: at the centre of Canada’s story. She also leads A Black People’s History of Canada, a national research and education project dedicated to making that history accessible to the public.

In recognition of Black History Month, we spoke with Dr. Cooper about her journey from student activist to scholar, the stories that continue to drive her work, and why understanding Black history in Canada has never been more urgent.

You’re a three-time U of T alum as well as a professor. How did your time as a student shape your path?

I loved being at U of T as a student. As an undergraduate, I was deeply involved in campus life – with the African and Caribbean Students’ Association, the History Students’ Association, and political activism, including the anti-apartheid and divestment campaigns. At the same time, I was very committed to my studies. I did a specialist degree in history and a major in African studies, and I genuinely loved learning.

By my second year, I realized that intellectual work really mattered to me and that I wanted to go on to graduate school. That realization grounded me. I later completed my master’s degree on the history of Black education in 19th-century Ontario and then returned to U of T to do my PhD in Canadian social history. That experience stretched me in so many ways – intellectually, politically, and personally.

^{Watch U of T historian and OISE alum Dr. Afua Cooper share why Black Canadian history matters.}

Was that when you began to see Black Canadian history as something that needed more attention?

Yes. At the time, Black history was usually framed through Caribbean studies, African studies, or African American studies. But Black Canadian history wasn’t something people quite knew how to conceptualize.

Yet Black people have been in Canada for more than 400 years. They were creating history and shaping this country. So why was Black history so often imagined as something that existed elsewhere?

When I began my PhD, I realized I was pushing against the grain. There wasn’t always support for the idea that Black history could be Canadian history. But I also understood that I was helping to create something new – a field that brought overlooked stories into the national conversation.

Are there particular stories that stayed with you as you did this work?

There are many, but one that always stays with me is the story of Dr. Clement Ligoure. Dr. Ligoure was a Trinidad-born physician who graduated from Queen’s University in 1916. When he moved to Halifax to practise medicine, he was denied hospital privileges because he was Black. In response, he established his own hospital – the Amanda Hospital, named after his mother – and treated patients of all races.

He also helped raise funds for the No. 2 Construction Battalion, the only all-Black battalion in Canadian military history during the First World War. Despite his efforts, he was denied the chance to serve as their doctor. Later, during the Halifax Explosion of 1917, he worked tirelessly to save lives, without charge. He died at just 33 years old.

His story shows both extraordinary resilience and the deep anti-Black racism embedded in Canadian institutions at the time. It forces us to ask hard questions about whose contributions are remembered and whose are erased.

Another important story is that of Lulu Anderson, who in 1922 was assaulted and removed from a movie theatre in Edmonton because she was Black. She challenged her treatment in court and lost, 24 years before Viola Desmond’s more widely known case. These stories remind us that racial segregation and resistance to it have long histories in Canada.

You’ve worked extensively on the Black People’s History of Canada project. What impact has that had?

A central goal of the project has been accessibility. It’s important to publish research, but it’s just as important to bring these histories into classrooms and communities.

We’ve worked with elementary and high school teachers to develop lesson plans and learning guides that accompany the research. We’ve also used digital tools – webinars, videos, visual storytelling – to reach a broader audience.

One initiative I’m especially excited about is a digital mapping project of Black-owned businesses in Toronto between 1850 and 1900. It reveals a vibrant centre of Black economic and cultural life in the downtown core in places people walk through every day without knowing that history. Making that visible is incredibly powerful.

How do you personally approach Black History Month?

I value Black History Month. February matters. For many people, it’s the only time of year when they actively seek out Black history – attending lectures, performances, exhibitions, or conversations they might not otherwise engage with.

At the same time, my philosophy is that Black history doesn’t begin or end in February. It should be woven throughout the year and throughout our institutions. Black History Month can be a starting point, but it shouldn’t be the only point.

Finally, what advice would you give to alumni and students who want to learn more?

Read. There is now a substantial body of work on Black Canadian history – books, articles, many of them freely available online. Watch films. The National Film Board has produced excellent resources that are accessible to everyone.

Learning can take many forms, but the key is to begin and to stay curious. Black history is Canadian history, and the more we understand it, the better we understand ourselves.

Originally published in .