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Abstract

James Francis Jenkins (1875-May 6,1931) was a Black Canadian journalist and activist from Forsythe, Georgia who was son of James Jenkins and Mary Jane Peeples. Chartered in 1925, he, a friend of famous black sociologist and activist W.E.B. Dubois helped found the Canadian League of the Advancement of Colored People afterwards referred to as CLACP. On July 14, 1923, he founded the newspaper Dawn of Tomorrow based in London, Ontario which was the voice of CLACP, an interracial civil rights organization that helped with securing jobs,  preparing for professions, education for youth, and helping fulfill peoples basic needs for food and shelter. Together this activist social welfare/social justice organization and newspaper—the biggest in that area and most popular during that period-- helped the world know the problems and issues and contributions of black Canadians in Ontario and globally.

Life and Career

Born around 1874 or 1875 in Forsythe, Georgia, and educated in the local schools, then graduating from Atlanta University with a liberal arts degree in 1905, James Francis Jenkins seems messianic in his endeavor to put black Canadians on the world map. In fact, he did what the father of black history cautioned blacks to do in “The Director Speaks:” “The Negro is not granted the opportunity to show his originality and is blamed for not doing so… He must abandon the search for treasures from without and must uncover those within”. Jenkins did just that. If one reads a document that appeared in Woodson’s Journal of Negro History describing how one particular black Georgia man escaped from peonage that dictated, he could not go to school in 1903 in Wrightsville not far from where Jenkins lived in Forsythe, then one could see why Jenkins wanted to leave these deplorable racial conditions. Leaving segregated Georgia and arriving in London, Ontario in 1907, he witnessed racial discrimination in Ontario which led him to think about Dubois’s response to racism in the US. Marrying Eliza Christina Groat, April 30, 1913, they had four boys and four girls, residing at 95 Glenwood Avenue in London. Taking several business courses while staying earlier in Chicago, he later wrote for the newspaper Moon Illustration Weekly. Later he became Vice President of London Brothers Federation in 1923. Of note too was the fact he found time to serve as manager of a quartet called the Colored Elite Quarter of London, Ontario which was featured in the November 1930 issue of the monumental newspaper he founded. In the meantime, this visionary had time to create Mammy’s Wash time Soap which he sold according to his granddaughter Marie Booker (Booker Interview April 2023). Subsequently he became an associate judge for the Juvenile Court in London. At the time of his death, he was working on his master’s degree on the history of blacks in Canada in the Department of History at the University of Western Ontario. Passing away at the age of 47 from complications after heart surgery on May 6, 1931, Jenkins’ death was so impactful one noted University of Western Ontario historian Fred Landon on black Canadian history wrote a letter to Dr. Carter G. Woodson asking that his death and  legacy be announced in the prestigious Journal of Negro History. Two important monumental achievements stand as testimony to his impact on Canadian history: his creation of the Canadian League for the Advancement of Colored People (CLACP) and his founding of its newspaper The Dawn of Tomorrow which served as its voice.

CLACP: If one reviews the racial climate in Canada before the founding of this much needed organization, one will see the rise in the Ku Klux Klan in Canada. Moreover, there was a Women’s Canadian KKK. In fact, London where Jenkins lived was the headquarters of the Canadian KKK. Coupled with the fact black Canadians were not allowed entry into such professions as nursing, the fact that Canada’s Immigration Act of 1910 discriminated against African Americans, the fact that certain professors especially at McGill University pontificated a belief in the need for eugenics, and a miasmal belief by many white Canadians that blacks were not deserving of full citizenship, were some of the negative things that Jenkins observed. Modeled after the NAACP, CLACP was founded by Jenkins in 1924 and chartered in 1925. Having observed discrimination in Ontario especially seen in the fact black Canadians were at first denied entry in World War 1 and seeing the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in Ontario further exacerbated by job, housing and educational discrimination, Jenkins started this much needed organization. He served as its organizing secretary. Its mission was to fight discrimination. Of note is that it held its first national conference October 10, 1927 in London, Ontario.

Dawn of Tomorrow: Having similar perspicacity as his mentor W.E.B. Dubois, Jenkins founded this much needed newspaper July 14, 1923. As University of Toronto history professor Cheryl Thompson reminds us Jenkins’ establishing The Dawn countered what famous historian on black Canadian history Robin Wink said about black newspapers in Canada not being immensely significant. This intellectual activist explained several cogent reasons why he started it—even having the same masthead as the NAACP journal The Crisis which Dubois founded in 1925: “Devoted to the Interests of the Darker Races.” As Jenkins explained there was not a black newspaper in London; most people did not know the contributions and problems and issues with blacks in Canada, and most black American newspapers were unaware of the contributions of black Canadians. Of importance is that it helped forge a Canadian black identity (Thompson 52). This newspaper created a sense of community which is still felt today having first operated out of the Jenkins’ home (Booker Personal Interview). As quoted by Jenkins in Thompson’s research, he said, “I want to write and keep our people in touch with each other thereby maintaining a race pride of which no member needs to be ashamed”. Running from 1923-2012, it is to be commended for addressing myriad problems and issues such as housing discrimination in Indianapolis, leftist unions, France’s attitude toward African Americans, Garvey facing being illegally charged with mail fraud, poor black education in Ontario, etc. Reaching people in Ontario, Quebec and Maritimes and including Dresden, Hamilton, Windsor, and Toronto, at its height it circulated among 4,000-5000 residents. Even though its founder passed in 1931, his widow Christina Groat Jenkins Howson continued to see that it was in circulation with relatives helping until 1971 bearing in mind she passed in 1967. Being the first black newspaper in London and circulating in Africa, England, Brazil, The West Indies and New York, Jenkins is to be applauded for reminding the world of the myth of Canada’s so-called racelessness. He is also to be commended for showing us what I call the black Canadian Renaissance tantamount to our great black Harlem Renaissance during the 20’s and early 30’s.

Legacy: This Canadian eidolon left an enduring legacy as seen in a $50,000 scholarship named after him first given in February 2023 to a deserving black deserving University of Western Ontario student. It is also seen in a plaque placed October 21, 2009, to mark the home of where The Dawn of Tomorrow was first published. Most recently a black history course at Huron University College of London, Ontario entitled History 3313F centers on students writing essays using selected issues from the memorable Dawn of Tomorrow (Ontario Black Heritage Society)

Other indications of his legacy are also seen in a 2015 documentary film entitled “Finding Freedom in the Forest City done by Justine Turner and dedicated to one of children: Evelyn Johnson. Still other indications of his legacy are seen in one of his daughters being the first black woman to be placed on a stamp: Kay Livingstone. Indeed, the legacy of James Jenkins is further evidenced by the accomplishments and recognition of his daughter Kay Livingstone. Her achievements highlight the lasting impact of her father’s work and advocacy. The inclusion of Kay Livingstone on a Canadian postage stamp and the dedication of a plaque in her honor serve as powerful symbols of recognition and commemoration. These tributes ensure that Kay Livingstone’s story, as well as the enduring legacy of her father’s activism and advocacy will be preserved and celebrated for future generations. Emancipation Day is another one of his legacies along with his wife Christina who organized the Family Community Club during the 40’s—the only club in London centered on blacks. His daughter Evelyn Johnson took over after her mother passed being president since 1967. As stated in a 1978 article on her printed in the London Free Press,   “while the club once helped families in need—providing funds for schoolbooks, clothing and shelter—it now wants to work toward eliminating the last vestiges of discrimination against blacks.”

Perhaps one legacy that stands today is that Jenkins creation of CLACP and the newspaper did what King said we must do in his last book Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community: “racial understanding is not something we find but something we must create   [ Added boldness is mine.] Jenkins did just that! Creating a legacy of community in London and throughout Canada—not chaos!

In 2020, the International Membership Committee of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the celebration of Black History Month in Canada. The monumental contributions of James Frances Jenkins were highlighted according to Barbara Dunn, former National Membership Chair of ASALH.

References:
Booker, Marie. Personal Interviews 2022-2023 (Granddaughter of James Frances Jenkins.)

Frost, Walls, Neary, Armstrong (eds.). Ontario’s African- Canadian American Heritage Collected Writings by Fred Landan, 1918-1967. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2009.

King, Martin Luther. Where Do We Go from Here? Chaos or Community. Boston: Beacon Press, 1967.

London Free Press, “Editor of Canada’s First Negro Paper Mrs. Frank Howson Dies in London,” May 10, 1967. London Public Library, London, Ontario

Landon, Fred. Letter to Woodson, Journal of Negro History, Vol 15, 1931, p. 343-346

Martin, Chip. “Emancipation Day: London Blacks, Friends Enjoy Jenkins Legacy.” London Free Press, August 8, 1978.

O’Brien, Jennifer. “Time of Hope, Heroes: Brothers Dave and Fred Jenkins: Part of London’s First land Largest Black Families.” London Free Press, February 8, 2008.

Shaw, Melissa. “Biography—Jenkins, James Frances –Volume XVI (1931-1940) Dictionary of Canadian Biography www.biographi.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-30.

Thompson, Cheryl. “Cultivating Narratives of Race, Faith, and Community: The Dawn of Tomorrow 1923-1971. Canadian Journal of History Spring-Summer 2015, Vol. 50 No. 1 .30-67.

Turner, Francis Joseph. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Canadian Social Science. Waterloo: Laurier University Press, 2005. 211-212.

“Finding Freedom in the Forest City.” A Documentary Film. Justine Turner 2016.

University of Western Ontario. Jenkins Scholarship

https://news.westernu.ca/2023/02/western-names-black-student-scholarships-in-honour-of-notable-community-members/

https://blackburnnews.com/london/london-news/2023/02/10/western-university-introduces-three-new-scholarships-black-students/

University of Western Ontario. Dawn of Tomorrow Archives

Winks, Robin W. The Blacks in Canada: A History (2nd ed.) Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University.