William Beal

When homesteaders were coming to Canada by the tens of thousands in the late 19th century, William Beal was one of a small number of black pioneers who staked his claim in Manitoba. Though by all accounts he was never much of a farmer, Beal made his mark as a booklover and autodidact in the community at Swan River Valley. In this episode, we explore the life of William Beal as well as the history of black immigration to Canada, and the tactics used by white Canadians and the Laurier government to prevent African-Americans from crossing the border.