The Porter tells the history of Black influence in building Canada at the turn of the last century through the lens of railway porters and health care workers in a time of deep systemic racism. The national Canadian train service hired Black conductors to work long and hard, enduring humiliation, low wages and dangers due to poor working conditions. But the workers stood up for equal rights and freedoms and formed a union. At the same time, the Red Cross of Canada would not treat Black citizens so the Black Cross was created. The CBC’s ambitious series brings to light the strides Blacks made at a critical time in Canadian history. What She Said’ Anne Brodie spoke with creatives, executive producers Marsha Greene, Annmarie Morais, Charles Officer and R.T. Thorne and writer-creator Arnold Pinnock.
The Porter on CBC and CBC Gem Debuts Feb 21