Journey to Justice (2000)

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Journey to Justice was released in 2000, in Canada. The American film was produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). The film was directed by Roger McTair. The film is displaying how Black Canadians faced discrimination and their fight against prejudice in the 20th century[1].

Plot

Journey to Justice Film Poster[2]

The film reveals how Black Canadians face discrimination and stand for their civil rights. These Black Canadians were Viola Desmond, Fred Christie, Hugh Burnette, Bromley Armstrong, Donald Willard Moore, and Stanley G. Grizzle. These people become the Black Canadian hero as they fought bravely the inequality from the 1930s to the 1950s. Their fight from sit-ins at the theatre to fair employment practices for Black Canadians had become the foundation of equality for everyone in Canada including Black Canadians[3].

Black Empowerment

There were Black Canadians who became the role model in fighting racism. during the 1930s to the 1950s. For example, Viola Desmond, a Black Canadian woman, was forced to move to a segregated seat when she was watching a movie. She remained in her seat and did not give to anyone. She was arrested in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia in 1946, and later on, she fought the charges on the trial which inspired many Black Canadians to not remain silent and submit to discrimination. Fred Christie brought his case to the Supreme Court in 1936 as he was rejected at a Montreal tavern for being black. In the 1940s, the Ontario state government was constrained by many Black Canadians especially Hugh Brunette and Bromley Armstrong to provide fair accommodation practices for Black Canadians. The Black union members were also ensured for their civil rights as Stanley G. Grizzle, the president of the Toronto Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters who was also a Black Canadian, worked and collaborated to create equal rights and justice for all Cacnadians[4].

Controversy

Ray Lewis, who won a medal for Canada at the 1932 Olympics, was struggled when he returned home. His hometown became a location where Ku Klux Klan Canada gathered. The success of Ray Lewis seemed to be not historical and even considered as unimportant, where he could only be working as a Pullman porter. He was prohibited to be a coach due to being a Black Canadian. Another case was Stanley Grizzle. As a Black soldier, he was not allowed to be Canadian army at World War II despite his distinction in a segregated unit in World War I. When he was drafted to war, he was assigned for cleaning his officer's clothes, tidying their tent, and shining their shoes. Later on, he challenged the officials and complaint to the commanders. Eventually, he got another assignment which led to a better duty. Although he made prominence in serving the army, He was rejected by three hotels on his wedding night and was disrespected by most Canadians[5].

References

  1. Journey to Justice (2000). IMDb. Retrieved January 25 2021
  2. Journey to Justice Film Poster Amazon. Retrieved January 25 2021
  3. Journey to Justice McIntyre Media. Retrieved January 25 2021
  4. Our Collection National Board of Canada. Retrieved January 25 2021
  5. JOURNEY TO JUSTICE Yorku. Retrieved January 25 2021]