But, As Usually Things Are Not Always What They Seem At First Glance

By Tony Best

Hitting the Course in Canada to do more than Play Golf.

Annual Tournament Provides Lesson in Black History.

To the casual observer, the large number of Jamaicans, Trinidadians and other West Indians on the sprawling golf course were simply having a day of fun, playing their favorite game.

Yes, almost 140 golfers with their clubs and carts were hitting the links, teeing off, scoring with birdies and otherwise following the rules of one of the world’s most popular sports. Ultimately, they were getting the balls into the cups at the Castlemore Golf & Country Club in Brampton, Ontario, north of Toronto. It’s also true that the men and women, many of them young professionals – attorneys, accountants, physicians, bankers, you name them--,and retired corporate executives and civil servants were enjoying themselves to the fullest as they as they kept score during the 18 holes of golf.

But there was more to the Second Annual Black Heroes Golf Tournament than just engaging in the sport.

“We have several objectives, one of which of course is for the golfers to have a good time,” said Hugh Graham, a retired Caribbean banker in one of Canada’s best known and most prosperous cities. “But we arrange this outing, if you will, to honor some of Canada’s Black heroes, people who in different ways paved the way for many of the opportunities we enjoy and sometimes take for granted today. At the same time, we provide the participants with an opportunity to engage in networking, getting to know each other and to hear about the interesting things in which they are involved. Just as important it helps to raise funds for some worthy causes which we hold dear.”

For instance, the proceeds, after expenses, go to Barbados House Canada – the Donald Moore House, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, specifically for the Julius Isaac Scholarship at the University of Windsor and for the Black Business and Professional Association’s National Scholarship Fund.

“These organizations come together and create this opportunity for the Black professionals and others, whether they are from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts-Nevis, Africa, wherever, to honor those who came before us and to enjoy ourselves,” said Graham who as convener was the mover and shaker behind the successful effort. “This year we had 138 golfers, up from the 122 who participated in the first year and we were able to raise more money than in 2007 while heightening the level of enjoyment.”

In 2007, the organizers honored Donald Moore, a West Indian immigrant who fought tirelessly in the early and middle decades of the 20th century to break down the barriers of racial discrimination and to open Canada’s immigration doors to people of color, especially to West Indians and Africans. Moore is one of the most revered figures in Canada’s Black communities.

“He did a lot for us,” said Graham who worked alongside Spice Tree Exterprises, an event planner, to organize the Tournament.

In addition, the 2007 Golf Tournament drew attention to the contributions of Harry Jerome, at one time Canada’s fastest man in track and field games who later went on to make his mark in education and other areas across Canada. Then, there was the Julius Isaac, prominent West Indian Jurist in Canada, who blazed a significant legal trail in the courts.

But this year, the organizers turned the spotlight on Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, two Black American slaves, who fled to freedom in Canada from the United States in 1833, moving from Louisville and Michigan to Toronto where they settled. But the Blackburns didn’t just escape the slave-markets in New Orleans, the abhorrent and brutal treatment by their “owners” in Kentucky and then lead a quiet life in Canada. When they were discovered by slave catchers in Michigan and were about to be returned to Louisville in chains, Blacks in Detroit rioted to protest their return. That gave rise to what is known today as the Blackburn riots, the first racial uprising in Detroit. Soon, they were spirited across the river to Canada. But when the U.S. demanded their return, Canada refused and the ensuing legal battle in the courts set a legal precedent that made Canada a safe haven for runaway slaves. Many of exploits of runaway slaves and the whites and Blacks who helped them to get into Canada are recorded in the annals of the “underground railroad,” the trail of safehouses, tunnels and other escape routes that helped American Blacks in the 19th century escaped to freedom in Canada.

That’s where the Blackburns came in. They used their home in Canada to help other slaves find freedom from the atrocities perpetrated against Blacks next door in the United States.

“It’s important that people remember Canada’s Black heroes and they can do it while playing golf,” said Graham, a former President of the Black Business and Professional Association, whose annual awards dinner in Toronto of attracts many of Canada’s influential public figures, including the Prime Minister and the Premier of Ontario, the Governor-General and Toronto’s Mayor to name a few.

As part of the Tournament, the golfers had lunch, later enjoyed a sumptuous four course dinner and cheered as prizes were presented to the winners. It was backed by several corporate sponsors and a number of Toronto law firms that retain the services of many of the attorneys who played the 18 holes. The Barbados Consulate-General in Toronto, now headed by Leroy McLean, added to the prize list by donating some of bottles of Barbados’ finest alcoholic beverage.

“It was really quite successful and we expect it to grow next year as well,” said Jess Murray of Spice Tree Enterprises, the event planner.

Barbados House is a Bajan organization in Toronto and its suburbs that hopes to acquire a property that honors Donald Moore and Barbados.

The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers is a premiere professional body of attorneys.

 

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