Rosemary Brown (with Derrick O‘Keefe)

Second Bananas

The Banana Boyz have Ricochet Editor, Organizer, Former Vancouver City Council Candidate & Socialist Dad Derrick O'Keefe on the pod to talk about the life & times of Rosemary Brown; the first Black Woman elected to a Canadian provincial legislature; first Black Woman to serve as Speaker of the House in a provincial legislature, and the first Black Woman to run for leadership of a Canadian Federal Party - coming in second to Ed Broadbent for leadership of the Federal NDP in 1975!

Rosemary was also an open socialist who was unafraid to criticize her own party and its white, male leaders. She spoke openly of how poverty disproportionately affected women, particularly Black & Elderly women. In her 1975 bid for the leadership of the NDP, she advocated for socialism, anti-imperialism, and feminism. Despite being recognized as a trailblazer & advocate, her radicalism is often downplayed or softened in official records.

Please also check out this list of Black Organizations & Fundraisers in British Columbia you can support!

SOURCES/FURTHER INFO:

Rosemary Brown on Wikipedia

Rosemary Brown on Black Past

Section 15 Biography on Rosemary Brown

Rosemary Brown Obituary

Historica Canada Video on Rosemary Brown (YouTube)

Rosemary Brown on Royal BC History Museum

INTERVIEW: The Task Force on Aging Women - 1980 (YouTube)

DOCUMENTARY: No Way, Not Me! (YouTube)

CBC Archive: Rosemary Brown Makes Leadership Bid in 1975 (CBC Video)