The Road Taken
Encyclopedia
The Road Taken is a 1996 documentary about the experiences of Black Canadian
sleeping-car porters
who worked on Canada's railways from the early 1900s through the 1960s.
Directed by Selwyn Jacob and written and narrated by Frederick Ward
, the film explores how racism prevented Blacks from being promoted, until porter Lee Williams took his fight to the union in 1955 and successfully claimed discrimination under Canada's Fair Employment Act.
The film features the music of jazz musician Joe Sealy
, whose father was a porter. Coproduced by Jacobs with the National Film Board of Canada
, the film received the Canada Award
in 1998 from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
.
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
sleeping-car porters
Pullman porters
Pullman porters were men hired by George Pullman to work on the railroads as porters on sleeping cars. Starting shortly after the American Civil War, George Pullman sought out former slaves to work on his sleeper cars.-History:...
who worked on Canada's railways from the early 1900s through the 1960s.
Directed by Selwyn Jacob and written and narrated by Frederick Ward
Frederick Ward
Frederick Ward may refer to:*Frederick Townsend Ward , United States sailor and mercenary*Frederick Wordsworth Ward aka Captain Thunderbolt , Australian bushranger...
, the film explores how racism prevented Blacks from being promoted, until porter Lee Williams took his fight to the union in 1955 and successfully claimed discrimination under Canada's Fair Employment Act.
The film features the music of jazz musician Joe Sealy
Joe Sealy
Joseph Arthur "Joe" Sealy is a Canadian jazz musician. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 2010.-Awards:* Juno Awards of 1982 - Nominee for Best Jazz Album - Clear Vision...
, whose father was a porter. Coproduced by Jacobs with the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
, the film received the Canada Award
Canada Award
The Canada Award is presented by Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television during its Gemini Awards to honour excellence in "mainstream" English-language television programming that "reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada." It was introduced in 1988 as the Multiculturalism Award, and...
in 1998 from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a Canadian non-profit organization created in 1979 to recognize over 4,000 Canadian film industry and television industry professionals...
.