Black on the Ballot

Episode 4. Balarama Holness: Winning Is OverratedBlack on the BallotBalarama Holness’ personal path to politics is unique. From growing up in an ashram, to a career as a professional football player, to running for mayor and founding a provincial political party. He became political, not necessarily to win, but to use the system to force change. How? In this conversation with host Nana aba Duncan, Balarama Holness talks about running for office and his conviction that, in politics, winning isn’t everything. In 2020, a New York Times headline described Balarama Holness as “the man striving to be the ‘Canadian Obama.’” Like Barack Obama, Balarama’s political career is rooted in community engagement, activism, and changing the system from within. This episode features: Balarama Holness, candidate for Montréal-Nord borough mayor (2017), mayoral candidate for Montréal (2021), and provincial candidate for Bloc Montréal (2022)Alvin Curling, Member of Ontario’s Provincial Parliament (1985-2005), speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (2003-2005), and Canada’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic (2005-2006)This episode includes an audio clip from CTV’s W5. Resources for this episode:Read the research that supports this podcast:New report on being Black in Canadian politicsOn Black Canadians’ voter turnout:Statistics Canada’s data on voter turnout by racial backgroundOn abuse in local politics:Samara Centre for Democracy’s SAMbot Municipal ReportFollow us on Instagram @black.on.the.ballotThis podcast is part of Black Canadians in Electoral Politics, a research partnership between Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada. To learn more, visit our website. To support the important work being done by Operation Black Vote Canada, consider making a donation.Funding for the podcast comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Carleton University, the Canada Research Chairs Program, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. In-kind support was provided to Carleton University by the Samara Centre for Democracy. The podcast was produced by Media Girlfriends.Episode website

Episode 3. TIffany Ford: From the Community and For the CommunityBlack on the BallotTiffany Ford entered politics to make change in her own neighbourhood. Tired of the way local politicians and the media depicted the community of Jane and Finch, she began knocking on doors to become a school board trustee. Can you do politics without parties? What does political success look like if you don’t want to pick a team? And how do you stand up for your community in the face of overt racism? For Tiffany, political life was not about political parties, it was about serving her community. In this episode, host Nana aba Duncan visits Tiffany at her current role, still working in her home community.This episode features: Tiffany Ford, Toronto School Board Trustee (2014-2018) and candidate for City Council (2018)Jean Augustine, Member of Parliament (1993-2006) and Minister of State (2002-2004)Zanana Akande, Member of Ontario’s Provincial Parliament (1990-1994) and Minister of Community and Social Services (1990-1991)This episode includes audio clips from Rebel Media. Resources for this episode:Read the research that supports this podcast:New report on being Black in Canadian politicsOn Black Canadians’ political participation:Social, political and economic participation, by raceOn diversity on municipal councils in Canada:Locally grownResources for running:OBVC’s “A Seat at the Table” toolkit Follow us on Instagram @black.on.the.ballotThis podcast is part of Black Canadians in Electoral Politics, a research partnership between Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada. To learn more, visit our website. To support the important work being done by Operation Black Vote Canada, consider making a donation.Funding for the podcast comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Carleton University, the Canada Research Chairs Program, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. In-kind support was provided to Carleton University by the Samara Centre for Democracy. The podcast was produced by Media Girlfriends.Episode website

Episode 1. Angela Simmonds: A Time for Change, But At What Cost?Black on the BallotAngela Simmonds made history as the first Black deputy speaker in Nova Scotia’s House of Assembly. But after just two years in elected office and a run at her party’s leadership, she resigned. Why? What challenges did she face during her time in politics? What is she most proud of? And what are the hidden pitfalls of entering the political arena? In this episode, Angela Simmonds tells host Nana aba Duncan her story of running for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and ultimately leaving politics altogether.This episode features: Angela Simmonds, Deputy Speaker and Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly (2021-2023)Wisdom Tettey, a political scientist and President of Carleton UniversityErin Tolley, a political scientist and Canada Research Chair in Gender, Race & Inclusive Politics at Carleton UniversityThis episode includes audio clips from CTV News Atlantic. Resources for this episode:Read the research that supports this podcast:New report on being Black in Canadian politicsElection rules in Nova Scotia:Nova Scotia Elections ActOn the link between money and politics in Canada:Gender and donations in Canadian politicsEthnicity and donations in Canadian politicsOn the politics of appearance:Hair, skin and Black women political elites Follow us on Instagram @black.on.the.ballotThis podcast is part of Black Canadians in Electoral Politics, a research partnership between Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada. To learn more, visit our website. To support the important work being done by Operation Black Vote Canada, consider making a donation.Funding for the podcast comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Carleton University, the Canada Research Chairs Program, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. In-kind support was provided to Carleton University by the Samara Centre for Democracy. The podcast was produced by Media Girlfriends. Episode website

This four-part podcast unpacks the experiences of Black politicians in Canada through a combination of groundbreaking new research and very real conversations. Each week, host Nana aba Duncan sits down with Black politicians to ask: What role does identity play when you run for elected office? What role should it play once you get there? Do Black politicians face a set of unique obstacles? And is Canadian politics actually all that open to diversity?Brought to you by Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada, episodes launch in January 2025. Follow this podcast if you want to know what it’s really like to be Black on the Ballot.Hosted on Acast. Find the latest episodes here.