For the week of April 1, 2024.
On April 6, 1973, Kathleen “Kay” Livingstone led the organization of the first National Congress of Black Women of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. Throughout her life, she was a leading voice and inspiration for Canadian women of African descent.
She was born Kathleen Jenkins in London, Ontario, in 1918. Her parents were James and Christina Jenkins, founders of the newspaper The Dawn of Tomorrow (1923). They instilled in her the value of service to the African Canadian community. As a young woman, she studied the performing arts at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the Ottawa College of Music. After graduation, she pursued a career producing and acting in theatre, radio, television, and cinema. In 1942, she married George Livingstone and the couple moved to Toronto. There, they raised their three sons and two daughters. At the same time, she hosted several radio shows, including the Kay Livingstone Show for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It explored poetry, music, and African diaspora cultures around the world.
In the 1950s, Kathleen Livingstone played an important role in advancing the interests of women of African descent in Canada. She transformed a Toronto social club known as the Dilettantes into an activist organization. Under her leadership from 1951 to 1953, it advanced the interests of Canadian women of African descent, advocating for recognition of Black history, providing grants for education, and even raising funds to support the fight for civil rights in the United States. She went on to serve as regional chair for Ontario Heritage in the National Black Coalition of Canada in 1969.
In 1973, Livingstone made history by leading the organization of the first National Congress of Black Women of Canada. Between April 6 and 8, roughly 200 representatives of Black organizations from across the country gathered in Toronto. They discussed issues affecting the lives of Black women, including education, immigration, and the portrayal of African-descended people in the media. These conversations helped give rise to a new Black feminist movement in Canada. Six more conferences took place between 1974 and 1987 in other Canadian cities. The Congress of Black Women of Canada has since expanded, opening regional offices that continue to support communities today.
In 1975, Livingstone was hired as a consultant for the Privy Council. Her job was to travel the country, undertaking the research needed to plan a conference on racialized communities in Canada. She is credited with coining the term “visible minorities” during this time. Tragically, Livingstone was not able to see the conference to fruition. She passed away suddenly in Toronto on July 24, 1975.
