Think On Me / Lady Ann Scott (track 17)
Audio
Audio file url: https://www.historymuseum.ca/wp-teachers-zone/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/39288-D12-Think-On-Me-1.mp3
Audio file url: https://www.historymuseum.ca/wp-teachers-zone/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/39288-D12-Think-On-Me-1.mp3
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
THINK
What lyrics stand out to you in Portia White’s song? Why?
THINK
What is Portia White’s importance to African Nova Scotians? What legacy has she left behind for the rest of Canada?
DO
Do some research to find other influential Black Canadian women, and share information on a woman you find interesting. What were her contributions to Canadian society? What do you think is important to know about her?
Details
Date 1945
Materials - Acetate
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This is a recording of Portia White, the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
- White (1911–1968) began singing in the church choir at the age of 6.
- In 1941, she made her debut in Toronto. Although acclaimed performances in New York followed, she still had trouble getting bookings, due to racism.
- The Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts since 1998.
This is a recording of Portia White, the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Portia White (1911–1968) was descended from Black Loyalists. She began singing in the church choir at the age of 6, and studied at the Halifax Conservatory of Music in the 1930s, while performing on her Reverend father’s devotional radio shows.
In 1941, she made her debut in Toronto. Although acclaimed performances in New York followed, she still had trouble getting bookings, due to racism.
A Stamp and statue have been dedicated to her and, since 1998, the Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts. The first recipient was White’s great-nephew, poet and playwright George Elliott Clark.
This is a recording by African Nova Scotian concert singer, Portia White.
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Portia White (1911–1968) was the third of 13 children. A descendant of Black Loyalists, she was the daughter of Reverend William Andrew White and Izie Dora.
Her father was an honorary captain with the No. 2. Construction Battalion. The Battalion was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian military history. Reverend White was also the second Black Canadian to be admitted to Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where he graduated with a degree in Theology in 1903.
Portia White began singing in the church choir at the age of 6, under the direction of her mother and, before the age of 8, was singing soprano roles from the opera Lucia de Lammermoor. Determined to become a professional singer, she walked 10 miles a week for music classes.
White studied mezzo-soprano voice with Bertha Cruikshanks at the Halifax Conservatory of Music in the 1930s. She also performed on her father’s devotional radio shows. In 1935, 1937 and 1938, she competed in the Halifax Music Festival and won the Helen Kennedy Silver Cup.
In 1940, White gave a few performances at Acadia University and Mount Allison University. On November 7, 1941, at the age of 30, she made her formal debut at Toronto’s Eaton Auditorium. She is regarded as the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
Because of the racism of the time, she had trouble getting bookings. On March 13, 1944, she performed an acclaimed recital at New York’s Town Hall, which marked the peak of her career. She was the first person from Canada to perform there. In 1944 and 1945, there were two more Town Hall concerts.
Portia White has left an impressive legacy, both on the arts and on Canadian history. In 1995, the Government of Canada named her a “person of national historic significance,” and Canada Post issued a stamp featuring her image in 1999. In 2004, a life-sized sculpture of her was carved from a tree in front of Truro’s Zion Baptist Church.
Each year since 1998, the Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts. The first recipient was White’s great-nephew, writer George Elliott Clark. Clark — a poet, playwright and literary critic — served as the Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate in 2016–2017.
- This is a recording of Portia White, the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
- White (1911–1968) began singing in the church choir at the age of 6.
- In 1941, she made her debut in Toronto. Although acclaimed performances in New York followed, she still had trouble getting bookings, due to racism.
- The Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts since 1998.
This is a recording of Portia White, the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Portia White (1911–1968) was descended from Black Loyalists. She began singing in the church choir at the age of 6, and studied at the Halifax Conservatory of Music in the 1930s, while performing on her Reverend father’s devotional radio shows.
In 1941, she made her debut in Toronto. Although acclaimed performances in New York followed, she still had trouble getting bookings, due to racism.
A Stamp and statue have been dedicated to her and, since 1998, the Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts. The first recipient was White’s great-nephew, poet and playwright George Elliott Clark.
This is a recording by African Nova Scotian concert singer, Portia White.
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Portia White (1911–1968) was the third of 13 children. A descendant of Black Loyalists, she was the daughter of Reverend William Andrew White and Izie Dora.
Her father was an honorary captain with the No. 2. Construction Battalion. The Battalion was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian military history. Reverend White was also the second Black Canadian to be admitted to Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where he graduated with a degree in Theology in 1903.
Portia White began singing in the church choir at the age of 6, under the direction of her mother and, before the age of 8, was singing soprano roles from the opera Lucia de Lammermoor. Determined to become a professional singer, she walked 10 miles a week for music classes.
White studied mezzo-soprano voice with Bertha Cruikshanks at the Halifax Conservatory of Music in the 1930s. She also performed on her father’s devotional radio shows. In 1935, 1937 and 1938, she competed in the Halifax Music Festival and won the Helen Kennedy Silver Cup.
In 1940, White gave a few performances at Acadia University and Mount Allison University. On November 7, 1941, at the age of 30, she made her formal debut at Toronto’s Eaton Auditorium. She is regarded as the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
Because of the racism of the time, she had trouble getting bookings. On March 13, 1944, she performed an acclaimed recital at New York’s Town Hall, which marked the peak of her career. She was the first person from Canada to perform there. In 1944 and 1945, there were two more Town Hall concerts.
Portia White has left an impressive legacy, both on the arts and on Canadian history. In 1995, the Government of Canada named her a “person of national historic significance,” and Canada Post issued a stamp featuring her image in 1999. In 2004, a life-sized sculpture of her was carved from a tree in front of Truro’s Zion Baptist Church.
Each year since 1998, the Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts. The first recipient was White’s great-nephew, writer George Elliott Clark. Clark — a poet, playwright and literary critic — served as the Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate in 2016–2017.
Summary
- This is a recording of Portia White, the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
- White (1911–1968) began singing in the church choir at the age of 6.
- In 1941, she made her debut in Toronto. Although acclaimed performances in New York followed, she still had trouble getting bookings, due to racism.
- The Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts since 1998.
Essential
This is a recording of Portia White, the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Portia White (1911–1968) was descended from Black Loyalists. She began singing in the church choir at the age of 6, and studied at the Halifax Conservatory of Music in the 1930s, while performing on her Reverend father’s devotional radio shows.
In 1941, she made her debut in Toronto. Although acclaimed performances in New York followed, she still had trouble getting bookings, due to racism.
A Stamp and statue have been dedicated to her and, since 1998, the Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts. The first recipient was White’s great-nephew, poet and playwright George Elliott Clark.
In-Depth
This is a recording by African Nova Scotian concert singer, Portia White.
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Portia White (1911–1968) was the third of 13 children. A descendant of Black Loyalists, she was the daughter of Reverend William Andrew White and Izie Dora.
Her father was an honorary captain with the No. 2. Construction Battalion. The Battalion was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian military history. Reverend White was also the second Black Canadian to be admitted to Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where he graduated with a degree in Theology in 1903.
Portia White began singing in the church choir at the age of 6, under the direction of her mother and, before the age of 8, was singing soprano roles from the opera Lucia de Lammermoor. Determined to become a professional singer, she walked 10 miles a week for music classes.
White studied mezzo-soprano voice with Bertha Cruikshanks at the Halifax Conservatory of Music in the 1930s. She also performed on her father’s devotional radio shows. In 1935, 1937 and 1938, she competed in the Halifax Music Festival and won the Helen Kennedy Silver Cup.
In 1940, White gave a few performances at Acadia University and Mount Allison University. On November 7, 1941, at the age of 30, she made her formal debut at Toronto’s Eaton Auditorium. She is regarded as the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.
Because of the racism of the time, she had trouble getting bookings. On March 13, 1944, she performed an acclaimed recital at New York’s Town Hall, which marked the peak of her career. She was the first person from Canada to perform there. In 1944 and 1945, there were two more Town Hall concerts.
Portia White has left an impressive legacy, both on the arts and on Canadian history. In 1995, the Government of Canada named her a “person of national historic significance,” and Canada Post issued a stamp featuring her image in 1999. In 2004, a life-sized sculpture of her was carved from a tree in front of Truro’s Zion Baptist Church.
Each year since 1998, the Nova Scotia Arts Council has awarded the Portia White Prize to an outstanding Nova Scotian in the arts. The first recipient was White’s great-nephew, writer George Elliott Clark. Clark — a poet, playwright and literary critic — served as the Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate in 2016–2017.