Congress of Black Writers
Photograph
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Examine the picture of those who attended the conference. Who are the participants? What do you observe? What does this say about the student population at McGill University?
THINK
Why do you think McGill University in Montréal was the site for the Congress of Black Writers? What do you think the congress accomplished?
DO
Research what was happening in Canada and in the United States during the 1960s that led to these movements on university campuses. List two events and explain one in detail.
Details
Date October 14, 1968
Materials - Photograph
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This is a photo of students attending the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal.
- The congress was held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- It was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
- Influential leaders and writers such as Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Maya Angelou, and many others gathered to speak about the struggles and unique challenges faced by people of African descent.
- In the 1960s, student movements were involved in making positive social and political changes for a just society.
This archival photo shows students and speakers at the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal.
Influential writers and leaders of African descent, and students of diverse backgrounds, gathered to hear speeches about colonialism, the importance of self-determination, and the barriers and unique struggles faced by people of African descent. It was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
During the 1960s, university campuses were a focal point for civil rights movements. The student movements that evolved, which included students of European and African descent, heightened awareness about political and social structures that were a legacy of colonialism.
The Congress of Black Writers was held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was dedicated to his memory.
Congress participants included Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Alvin Poussaint, James Forman, Maya Angelou, and other prominent leaders.
This archival photo shows students and speakers attending the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal in 1968.
Influential writers and leaders of African descent, and students of diverse backgrounds, gathered to hear intellectuals speak about colonialism, the importance of self-determination, and the barriers and unique struggles faced by people of African descent. The need for social justice and change was a common theme in the United States and Canada. The Congress of Black Writers was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
During the 1960s, university campuses were a focal point for civil rights movements born out of social and political issues. Students of African and European descent began to question the political and social structures of various institutions, in the hope of bringing about social change and justice.
The Congress of Black Writers, held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was dedicated to his memory and also that of Malcolm X. It helped create an awareness of the history of people of African descent and their struggle as a result of colonalism.
Congress participants included Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Alvin Poussaint, James Forman, Maya Angelou, and other prominent leaders.
- This is a photo of students attending the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal.
- The congress was held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- It was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
- Influential leaders and writers such as Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Maya Angelou, and many others gathered to speak about the struggles and unique challenges faced by people of African descent.
- In the 1960s, student movements were involved in making positive social and political changes for a just society.
This archival photo shows students and speakers at the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal.
Influential writers and leaders of African descent, and students of diverse backgrounds, gathered to hear speeches about colonialism, the importance of self-determination, and the barriers and unique struggles faced by people of African descent. It was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
During the 1960s, university campuses were a focal point for civil rights movements. The student movements that evolved, which included students of European and African descent, heightened awareness about political and social structures that were a legacy of colonialism.
The Congress of Black Writers was held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was dedicated to his memory.
Congress participants included Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Alvin Poussaint, James Forman, Maya Angelou, and other prominent leaders.
This archival photo shows students and speakers attending the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal in 1968.
Influential writers and leaders of African descent, and students of diverse backgrounds, gathered to hear intellectuals speak about colonialism, the importance of self-determination, and the barriers and unique struggles faced by people of African descent. The need for social justice and change was a common theme in the United States and Canada. The Congress of Black Writers was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
During the 1960s, university campuses were a focal point for civil rights movements born out of social and political issues. Students of African and European descent began to question the political and social structures of various institutions, in the hope of bringing about social change and justice.
The Congress of Black Writers, held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was dedicated to his memory and also that of Malcolm X. It helped create an awareness of the history of people of African descent and their struggle as a result of colonalism.
Congress participants included Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Alvin Poussaint, James Forman, Maya Angelou, and other prominent leaders.
Summary
- This is a photo of students attending the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal.
- The congress was held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- It was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
- Influential leaders and writers such as Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Maya Angelou, and many others gathered to speak about the struggles and unique challenges faced by people of African descent.
- In the 1960s, student movements were involved in making positive social and political changes for a just society.
Essential
This archival photo shows students and speakers at the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal.
Influential writers and leaders of African descent, and students of diverse backgrounds, gathered to hear speeches about colonialism, the importance of self-determination, and the barriers and unique struggles faced by people of African descent. It was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
During the 1960s, university campuses were a focal point for civil rights movements. The student movements that evolved, which included students of European and African descent, heightened awareness about political and social structures that were a legacy of colonialism.
The Congress of Black Writers was held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was dedicated to his memory.
Congress participants included Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Alvin Poussaint, James Forman, Maya Angelou, and other prominent leaders.
In-Depth
This archival photo shows students and speakers attending the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University in Montréal in 1968.
Influential writers and leaders of African descent, and students of diverse backgrounds, gathered to hear intellectuals speak about colonialism, the importance of self-determination, and the barriers and unique struggles faced by people of African descent. The need for social justice and change was a common theme in the United States and Canada. The Congress of Black Writers was a defining event of the civil rights movement in Canada.
During the 1960s, university campuses were a focal point for civil rights movements born out of social and political issues. Students of African and European descent began to question the political and social structures of various institutions, in the hope of bringing about social change and justice.
The Congress of Black Writers, held six months after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was dedicated to his memory and also that of Malcolm X. It helped create an awareness of the history of people of African descent and their struggle as a result of colonalism.
Congress participants included Stokely Carmichael (a.k.a. Kwame Ture), C.L.R. James, Rocky Jones, Walter Rodney, Alvin Poussaint, James Forman, Maya Angelou, and other prominent leaders.