Background in image by Goumbik from Pixabay

Black history is everyone's history. And it is happening now. From writer/director R.T. Thorne to the president of the Toronto Raptors Masai Ujiri. Black Canadians are making history today and every day.

How many of these contemporary agents of change do you know?

Cameron Davis

Photo courtesy of Heather Greenwood Davis

Activist and YouTuber Cameron Davis is making changes. He shares videos about his experiences travelling the world, cooking new recipes and dealing with racism as a Black person in Canada. 

Davis is a change leader in his community. He started an organization called BY YOUTH, which stands for Black York Region (BYR) Youth. The group focuses on supporting Black youth and their families through education and advocacy work.

Fun fact: Davis teaches his gaming fans how to improve their Minecraft skills.

Masai Ujiri

The Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri receives his 2019 NBA championship ring. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

In 2013, Masai Ujiri joined the Toronto Raptors basketball team. He was the general manager and is now the president. Six years later, Ujiri led the Raptors to the NBA Championship. It was the first for Canada.

Ujiri is also the founder of Giants of Africa. It is an organization that promotes basketball for youth in Africa. They do this by empowering and educating kids on and off the court.

Fun fact: Ujiri was raised in Nigeria.

R.T. Thorne

R.T Thorne behind the scenes of Utopia Falls. A new CBC Gem original series. (CBC)

Randall Thorne, who goes by R.T., spent years directing award-winning music videos. After Thorne became the writer, director, producer and creator of Utopia Falls. Utopia Falls is the first hip-hop sci-fi show. R.T. has also directed and produced Kung Fu, The Lake and The Porter.

In 2020, the Director Guild of Canada named R.T. the first chair of the BIPOC members committee. Today R.T. advocates for Canadian directors. People who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of colour.

Fun fact: Growing up, Thorne wanted to be a comic book creator.

Sedina Fiati

Photo credit by Robert Obumselu

Sedina Fiati was born and raised in Toronto. She is a queer Black activist, producer and director. She also performs in plays, web series, films and television shows.

Besides being on screen, Fiati is also an advocate. They advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion for marginalized people in the arts.

Fun fact: This multi-talented creator’s family comes from Trinidad and Ghana.