Albert Jackson (mail carrier)

Albert Jackson (2 November 1857 — 14 January 1918) was the first Black Canadian mail carrier in Toronto. Jackson faced discrimination when he started his position in 1882 and was reassigned as mail porter. When the decision was reversed by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald in order to win votes for the 1882 Canadian federal election, Jackson continued his mail carrier career from 1882 until his 1918 death. Jackson was posthumously honored with a plaque by Heritage Toronto in 2017 and a stamp by Canada Post in 2019.

Albert Jackson
Born1857 (1857)
Milford, Delaware, U.S.
DiedJanuary 14, 1918(1918-01-14) (aged 60–61)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Early life

Born in 1857 in Milford, Delaware[1], Jackson grew up in a family with eight siblings.[2] The following year, Jackson and his family fled to St. Catharines, Ontario via the Underground Railroad after his oldest siblings were sold into slavery.[3][4]

Career

In May 1882, Jackson began working at the Toronto General Post Office and became the first black mail carrier in Toronto.[5] At the beginning of his career, Jackson was refused training by his post office colleagues and was discriminated against due to racism. After he was given his new position of mail porter, Black Canadians living in Toronto during the 1880s objected to Jackson's change of position.[6][7] In order to win votes for the 1882 Canadian federal election, Prime Minister of Canada John A. Macdonald convinced the post office to give Jackson back his job of mail carrier. When Jackson resumed his mail carrier career, he stayed with the post office until his 1918 death.[8]

Death

Jackson died on 14 January 1918.[7]

Personal life

Jackson was married and had four children.[6]

Honours

In 2013, a street in Toronto's Harbord Village was named Albert Jackson Lane in honour of Jackson.[9] Other posthumous honors include a Heritage Toronto plaque in 2017 and a Canada Post stamp in 2019.[10][11]

References
  1. Albert Jackson
  2. Toronto's First Black Postman
  3. Marion, Michael-Allan (10 July 2013). "Albert Jackson, Canada's first black postman". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  4. McFarquhar, Colin (Spring 2007). "Blacks in 1800s Toronto: The Search for Equality". Ontario History. XCIX (1): 66.
  5. Simmons, Taylor (22 July 2017). "Toronto's first black mailman honoured 135 years after he started on the job". CBC. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  6. Teotonio, Isabel (10 February 2012). "Black History Month: The unknown story Toronto's first black postman". Toronto Star. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  7. "First black postman's family honoured and inspired by his legacy (with video)". Windsor Star. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  8. "Canada Post celebrates Black History Month with new stamp". Canada Post. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  9. "Lane named after Toronto's 1st black postman". City News. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  10. Reason, Cynthia (10 August 2017). "Heritage Toronto recognizes Albert Jackson as first Black mail carrier". City Centre Mirror. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  11. "Canada Post issues stamp honouring postal pioneer". Canada Post. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
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