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Standing left to right: Dr. Valin Marshall, Jean Howell, Dr.
Frank Robinson, Menziwe Mbeo, Clyde Griffith Seated: Emery
Barnes
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Emery Barnes was born in New Orleans in 1929 and moved to
Canada in 1957. He graduated with a social work degree from
U.B.C. He was elected as one of the first two Black members
to the Legislative Assembly in 1972, (the other was Rosemary
Brown) in the riding of Vancouver Centre and subsequently
re-elected four times. Barnes was an outstanding athlete
excelling particularly in high jump, track and field and
football. His life was dedicated to helping the
disadvantaged. He was a strong advocate for worldwide human
rights and raised the profile of Black people in BC.
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Reflections on Emery Barnes
Based on a conversation with Barnes' good
friend Clyde Griffith
by Lorraine Murray
HUMANE WAS EMERY BARNES' OUTSTANDING QUALITY. Humane and
modest. Emery was a big man, not only in stature, but in his
dedication to others. For example, when his party was still
in the opposition and Emery was working, he began to realize
how difficult life was for many of the people of his riding,
many of them welfare recipients. So he moved downtown to
East Vancouver and decided to limit himself to living on an
amount equal to that received by welfare recipients. He
found it almost impossible to survive.
It was Dave Barrett who encouraged him to move into
politics. The first time he ran for the BC Legislature,
Emery was not elected. At that time, the city of Vancouver
was not as culturally diverse as today so he had less chance
of success. Emery did not talk much about the barriers he
faced even though, particularly during his childhood in New
Orleans, he had suffered harassment which prompted his
family's move to the West Coast.
The BC Black History Awareness Society came into being in
1993, inspired by a man named Jonathan Johnson who wanted to
do something to acknowledge Black History Month. Emery was
able to get a government grant and rally some community
support to form a committee. Black History Month was one of
its mandates. Emery was instrumental in the Society's
connection with the provincial government and the Greater
Victoria School Board in the development of a curriculum
resource guide. He went on to help create a Society to build
a cultural community centre in Vancouver for the community
as a whole but especially to serve people of African
heritage. The BC Black Cultural Association was formed;
Emery was its first president. Afterwards he involved
himself with fundraising for the Association but it was
about that time his health deteriorated. His vision of a
cultural centre first began during his involvement with the
National Coalition for Coloured People in the 1960's.
Emery was appointed Deputy Speaker and then again elected
Speaker, unanimously. There had never been a Speaker like
Emery. His election had a positive impact that spread far
beyond the borders of BC. The premier of one of the
provinces of South Africa came here with some of his cabinet
to meet Emery. A black man in BC is elected Speaker of a
white legislature! That became world news.
Such was Emery Barnes - a man, bigger than life, who uplifted
the lives of others.
Lorraine Murray is a Programme Coordinator at VIRCS and
a periodical writer.
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