Lecture - Little Burgundy: From Black Colony to Vibrant 21st Century Neighbourhood

As part of Black History Month, Pointe-à-Callière invites you to watch a captivating talk on the history of the neighbourhood known today as “Little Burgundy.” Journey back to the early days of this district in southwest Montréal, which was once the beating heart of the city’s first Black community.

With their roots in slavery—which was abolished throughout the British Empire in 1834—, Black populations in Montréal developed and grew more diverse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as newcomers settled in the city. Attracted by the growing railway industry, many of them were hired as porters. With slavery thereby giving way to a society in which racial segregation and persistent discrimination kept them marginalized, members of the Black, mainly anglophone community settled in Faubourg Saint-Antoine, which is now known as Little Burgundy. The community developed an identity and culture of its own, making Montréal of the 1920s a jazz mecca for world-renowned musicians.

Join our guest speaker for an in-depth examination of the evolving status and living conditions of the neighbourhood’s inhabitants, and learn how their contributions have furthered our city’s reach and reputation. Hear about their current struggle to preserve and raise awareness of their history, revealing a little-known chapter of Montréal’s past!

Lecturer: Dr. Dorothy Williams, historian, specializing in Black Canadian History