They “Could Care for Our Elderly in Our Homes” : The Historical Impact of Black Caregivers

My aim is to interrogate prevalent assumptions about health and social services through a survey of notable chapters in the history of Black caregiving in Quebec. The assumptions have created expectations and a false narrative built upon historical myths and erasures that undergird the provincial population’s understanding of its relationship with Black caregivers. Blacks, both Francophone and Anglophone, though not exclusively so, have had significant connection to the care and well-being of Quebec’s residents. Black caregiving in Quebec is not recent—indeed, Black caregivers have been intimately tied to Quebec’s labour force aspirations and development for centuries. Even so, it is rarely acknowledged, to the point of being virtually unknown. This paper seeks to address those gaps in the narrative by presenting a timeline dating back to the 17th century. It will reveal intricate connections between the different periods when it comes to segregation, prejudice, migration, immigration quotas, and bans.

Parallel title: QUESCREN Working Paper no. 10