It seems there is a commemorative day for everything now.
Some hold the greatest importance and meaning. November 11 springs to mind.
Some are just silly, such as Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept. 19).
Others should be more celebrated than they are.
Jan. 21 was Lincoln Alexander Day.
Alexander is rightfully commemorated as a trailblazer for human rights and equality.
He became the first black member of Parliament in 1968 when he was elected as the Progressive Conservative MP for Hamilton West.
In 1979, he became Canada's first black cabinet minister, appointed by Prime Minister Joe Clark to be minister of labour.
He was also the first black lieutenant governor of Ontario, appointed in 1985.
Canadians tend to harbour an air of superiority over our American cousins regarding race relations. After all, Canada was the final destination for many black people fleeing slavery via the Underground Railroad.
Nevertheless, it was not easy being black in Canada.
Even though Alexander distinguished himself as a corporal in the Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, he was refused service in a Vancouver bar because of the colour of his skin.
Alexander got a law degree when many schools in Canada were still segregated and some universities would not admit people of colour.
During his law education, he challenged the dean in a classroom of 200 students for using inappropriate language referring to black people. It was a risky move, but he still managed to graduate and went on to establish the first interracial law partnership in Canada.
It is still not easy being black in Canada, but it has gotten a lot easier in no small part because of remarkable individuals such as Lincoln Alexander leading the way.
He was not a shrinking violet, he stood up for himself and others, but also had a strong ethic of humility.
"All I try to do, is to do a job and to do it well," he famously said.
Jan. 21 officially became Lincoln Alexander Day in 2015 and deserves much more recognition than it currently enjoys.
If you are not familiar with the life of Lincoln Alexander, it behooves you to look him up. There are several very good resources on the Internet.
