Wilson A. Head: Difference between revisions
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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“Wilson Head was the son of a Georgia sharecropper, the eldest of five children" (3). "He grew up poor in the small black community of Milner, near Atlanta; his father died when he was 10, but his mother stressed the importance of education, telling him he would have to be twice as smart as whites to compete |
“Wilson Head was the son of a Georgia sharecropper, the eldest of five children" (3). "He grew up poor in the small black community of Milner, near Atlanta; his father died when he was 10, but his mother stressed the importance of education, telling him he would have to be twice as smart as whites to compete" (9). Wilson graduated from Booker T. Washington high school in 1933, and from Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Sociology, 1940, (9). |
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In his memoirs, A Life on the Edge: Experiences in Black and White in North America (21), Dr. Head describes the poverty and injustices to which Black people in the "Deep South" were subjected, and which he experienced in his youth. In the 1930s, Dr. Head took part in a series of "sit-ins" on restaurants and bars, and protested against barbers, shop keepers, and movie house owners who would not serve blacks years before the civil rights movement began (3, 7, 10). He helped to desegregate a golf course in Windsor (7). |
In his memoirs, A Life on the Edge: Experiences in Black and White in North America (21), Dr. Head describes the poverty and injustices to which Black people in the "Deep South" were subjected, and which he experienced in his youth. In the 1930s, Dr. Head took part in a series of "sit-ins" on restaurants and bars, and protested against barbers, shop keepers, and movie house owners who would not serve blacks years before the civil rights movement began (3, 7, 10). He helped to desegregate a golf course in Windsor (7). |
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Comment: I have rolled back two edits here. Please follow the advise given by Onel5969 in his 8 September review. -- Sam Sailor Talk! 08:51, 21 September 2015 (UTC)
Wilson A. Head | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 30, 1914 Milner, Georgia, USA |
| Died | October 9, 1993 (aged 79) Toronto, Ontario |
| Nationality | Canadian from 1965 |
| Occupation(s) | Sociologist, professor |
Wilson A. Head (September 30, 1914–October 9, 1993) was an American/Canadian sociologist and community planner known for his work on race relations and human rights in the United States, Canada and other parts of the world.[1]
Early life
“Wilson Head was the son of a Georgia sharecropper, the eldest of five children" (3). "He grew up poor in the small black community of Milner, near Atlanta; his father died when he was 10, but his mother stressed the importance of education, telling him he would have to be twice as smart as whites to compete" (9). Wilson graduated from Booker T. Washington high school in 1933, and from Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Sociology, 1940, (9).
In his memoirs, A Life on the Edge: Experiences in Black and White in North America (21), Dr. Head describes the poverty and injustices to which Black people in the "Deep South" were subjected, and which he experienced in his youth. In the 1930s, Dr. Head took part in a series of "sit-ins" on restaurants and bars, and protested against barbers, shop keepers, and movie house owners who would not serve blacks years before the civil rights movement began (3, 7, 10). He helped to desegregate a golf course in Windsor (7).
Health
Dr. Head died of cancer of the prostate in 1993 (1, 9). His ashes are encrypted at Knox United Church, Agincourt, Ontario.
Ideology
Wilson was raised in the Baptist Church, but became a member of the Quakers (Society of Friends) in the 1940s (4). The Quakers supported him in his own convictions of pacifism, egalitarianism, and conscientious objection to military service (3, 9). He was seen as a "moderate" in his views on combating racism (4, 6, 7, 11). His "quiet, reasonable style has become his hallmark" (7). He was, however, an "outspoken critic of Metro police" (1), citing racial profiling in their practices (1, 8, 13, 17). Dr. Head was also very active in the war on poverty in Canada (18, 19, 20).
Career
He worked at times with the Congress of Racial Equality and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (3). He was director of community development and community organization at Flanner House in Indianapolis, which served poor and indigent Black people (3). "In 1981, then president of the National Black Coalition of Canada (1, 4), he testified before the Joint House Senate Committee on the Canadian Constitution" (20).
Dr. Head moved to Windsor, Canada in 1959 "to get my children away from a racist society" (1). In the US, he had been director of Chicago's Parkway Community House, and director of the state of Ohio's Juvenile Diagnostic Centre. When he came to Canada, he became the executive Director of the Windsor Group Therapy Project. In 1965 he became the Director of Research and Planning for the Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto (15).
"He lectured in Social Work at the University of Windsor, 1960-1964, University of Michigan, 1962-1964, Wayne State University, 1963-1965 and Sir Williams College, Chicago, 1961-1964. He was involved with a number of organizations including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association of Toronto as vice-president, 1967, National Welfare Council founding member and National Black Coalition of Canada, chairman and president, 1977-1982. Dr. Head became the first chairman of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Atkinson College, York University” (2).
In 1988 Dr. Head was asked to participate in the Donald Marshall Inquiry Commission in Nova Scotia (10). Among his numerous articles and research studies, most prominent are "The Black Presence in the Canadian Mosaic" (22), and "Discrimination Against Blacks in Nova Scotia: The Criminal Justice System" (23).
Legacies
Founding chairman, UARR (Urban Alliance on Race Relations), Toronto, Ontario, still today a strong advocacy voice (1, 3, 4).
Founded and was first president of, the National Black Coalition of Canada, 1978, which dissolved in 1982, because, he said, "blacks were too busy fighting blacks" (1, 9).
Autobiography, Life on the Edge: Experiences in "Black and White" in North America, by Wilson A. Head, 1993, includes a forward by the late Honourable Lincoln Alexander, and an Epilogue by Madame Rosalie Silberman Abella (21).
Founding Chairperson of the School of Social Work, York University, Downsview, Ontario, 1966 (3).
A scholarship in Dr. Wilson Head's name has been set up at York University for students who demonstrate a particular interest in human rights, race relations and/or peace (7).
Bildung
1. Booker T. Washington High School, Atlanta, Georgia, 1933. 2. Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Sociology, Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama, 1940 (9). 3. University of Georgia, Master's degree in Social Work, 1942 (9). 4. Ohio State University, doctoral degree in Sociology, Adult Education, and Social Psychology, 1958 (9).
Honors/Awards
- Named in Who's who in Black Canada 2: Black success and Black excellence in Canada: a contemporary directory (24).
- Harry Jerome Award, 1988 for community service (16, 5).
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, York University, Downsview, Ontario 1982 (1).
- Memorial Award for Outstanding Work in Antiracism, Peace and Human Rights, Atkinson College, York University, Downsview, Ontario (24).
- and many others which are on display at Atkinson College, York University, Downsview, Ont. (26)
Publications
Head authored and coauthored numerous research studies and articles, the more notable of which are:
- The Black presence in the Canadian mosaic : a study of perception and the practice of discrimination against blacks in metropolitan Toronto submitted to The Ontario Human Rights Commission
by Wilson A Head; Ontario Human Rights Commission. State or province government publication. Publisher: Ontario : Ontario Human Rights Commission, 1975.
- Discrimination against blacks in Nova Scotia : the criminal justice system by Wilson A Head; Donald H J Clairmont; Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall, Jr., Prosecution (N.S.) State or province government publication, Publisher: [Halifax, N.S.] : The Commission, 1989.
- Poverty : a major issue confronting Canadians : this is one of a series of papers prepared by members of a task force on poverty for presentation to the Harrison Liberal Conference by Wilson A Head, Publisher: [Canada] : [publisher not identified], 1969.
- Adaptation of immigrants in Metro Toronto : perceptions of ethnic and racial discrimination : an exploratory study by Wilson A Head, Publisher: [Toronto] : York University, Downsview, Ont. 1980.
- Adaptation of immigrants : perceptions of ethnic and racial discrimination by Wilson A Head, Publisher: [Toronto] : York University, Downsview, Ont. 1981.
References
- ^ Francis J. Turner (7 September 2005). Encyclopedia of Canadian Social Work. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. pp. 168–. ISBN 978-0-88920-436-2.
1. Toronto Star, (Toronto, Ont.), (AM Edition), Oct. 8, 1993: A7. "Wilson Head Fought Hard for Equality".
2. Wilson A. Head, FONDS, MG 31, D 148, Finding Aid No. 1458. http://www.archivescanada.ca/english/search/ItemDisplay.asp?
4. Toronto Star, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Oct 9, 1993. Editorial, page C.2, "Wilson Head (1914-1993)".
5. Toronto Star, Toronto, Ont., Canada. July 5, 1992. Letter, page A.12, "June Callwood no racist, attests Wilson Head".
6. Toronto Star, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Feb. 6, 1993. Editorial, page B.2, "Heed Head's Words".
7. Toronto Star, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Feb. 3, 1993. News, page A.1, "We have a role to play, Head tells blacks".
8. Toronto Star, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Aug. 17, 1992. News, page A.1, "Race relations watchdog body urged for police".
9. The Globe and Mail, Toronto, Ont, Canada. Oct. 8, 1993: A.20. OBITUARY: "Wilson Head led struggle in Canada for racial justice",
10. Wilson Head's Life on the Edge left lasting impact: Daily News Retrieved from htp://search.proquest.com/docview/342779527?accountid=14771 Saunders, Charles. Daily News [Halifax, N.S.] 16 June 1996: 24. Saunders, C. (1996, Jun 16).
11. Toronto Star, Toronto, Ont., Canada. May 26, 1995, News, page A.25. "Race relations alliance celebrates 20 years".
12. Toronto Star, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Sept. 11, 1986, page H.9. "Founding president re-elected head of Urban Alliance".
13. The Globe and Mail, Aug. 29, 1979, page 2. "Suspend Policemen, Black Coalition Urges".
14. Wilson A. Head, FONDS, MG 31, D 148, Finding Aid No. 1458. "Administrative History/Biographical Sketch". Archives Canada.
15. The Montreal Gazette, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Sept. 27, 1968, page 45. "White Canada is warned of red power".
16. The Montreal Gazette, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. August 9, 1968, page 20. "Citizens urged to protest against 'arbitrary' arrests".
17. Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ont., Canada. Feb. 17, 1969, p. 9, "Welfare Programs Lashed".
18. Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ont., Canada. Oct. 30, 1969, page 13. "Negative income tax best, Liberal party told."
19. http://bbpa.org/harryjeromeawards/the-alumni/1988-alumni/
21. Life on the Edge : Experiences in Black and White in North America : Memoirs of Wilson Head. Publisher: Dr. Wilson Head Institute, Toronto , 1995, ISBN:0-9680066-0-4.
22. The Black presence in the Canadian mosaic : a study of perception and the practice of discrimination against blacks in metropolitan Toronto submitted to The Ontario Human Rights Commission by Wilson A Head; Ontario Human Rights Commission. State or province government publication. Publisher: Ontario : Ontario Human Rights Commission, 1975.
23. Discrimination against blacks in Nova Scotia : the criminal justice system by Wilson A Head; Donald H J Clairmont; Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall, Jr., Prosecution (N.S.) State or province government publication, Publisher: [Halifax, N.S.] : The Commission, 1989.
24. Who's who in Black Canada 2: Black success and Black excellence in Canada: a contemporary directory. By Dawn P. Williams, 1961 - Format: book. December 1, 2006, page 218.
26. York University, Atkinson College, Downsview, Ontario, Canada. On permanent display Ross Building, 8th floor.