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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2024.3.4 |
Object Name |
Video Recording |
Title |
Dr. Phil Edwards We Will Do Better Conversation Starter |
Scope & Content |
Dr. Phil Edwards We Will Do Better Conversation Starter, 2020, Born Digital MP4, viewing time 00:02:48. We Will Do Better: Develop racism awareness and spark conversations about racism by listening to the stories of how Hall of Famers overcame the challenges of racism in their sporting career. These vidoes created by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in partnership with TSN and Quantum Media House share these stories. Transcript: As Canada's national museum of sport, we have a platform and an obligation to amplify Black voices, and share the lived experiences of Black Hall of Famers. Today, we bring you the story of sprinter, Dr. Phil Edwards. Dr. Phil Edwards was Canada's most decorated Olympic Games athlete during the 20th century. Edwards won five Olympic Bronze Medals over his career, earning him the nickname "Man of Bronze.". In 1934 He became the first Black person to win a Gold Medal at the British Empire Games (now called the Commonwealth Games). In 1936, Edwards was also the very first recipient of the Lou Marsh Memorial Award, which celebrates Canada's top athlete, and in the same year was awarded the Lionel Conacher Award which celebrates Canada's top male athlete. Edwards rose to the top of his sport in the 1920's and 30's, when it was uncommon to see Black athletes among the top contenders. Edwards nearly lost the opportunity to compete at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin where he won one of his Bronze Medals. Germany was trying to use the Games to display the "superiority of the Aryan race." Hitler originally planned to ban Black athletes from competing, but later decided that even with non-Aryan athletes, the Games could be used to further Germany's propaganda. Despite Edwards showing his athletic prowess at the Games, he continued to face racism. After competing, Edwards and the rest of the Canadian Olympic Team stopped to stay the night in an English hotel, but white patrons staying at the hotel were "uncomfortable being around a Black man," therefore, Edwards was denied entry. In a strong gesture of solidarity, the Olympic Team left the hotel to find somewhere that allowed them to stay together. Despite the racial prejudice and stereotypes of the time, Phil Edwards became the first Black person to graduate from McGill Medical school. Dr. Edwards went on to have a successful medical career specializing in tropical diseases. After graduating he enlisted in the Canadian military during the Second World War. Throughout the rest of his life, he spent time assisting on international medical missions. In an attempt to stay active in the athletics community, he and fellow Hall of Famer Jim Worrall, created Canada's first international sport development program. Edwards' legacy lives on through the "Phil Edwards Memorial Trophy," which was created in his honour and is presented to Canada's top track athlete each year. We Can Do Better. We Will Do Better. |
Year Range from |
2020 |
Year Range to |
2020 |
People |
Edwards, Phil |
Search Terms |
Athlete Conversation Starter Lionel Conacher Award Lou Marsh Memorial Award Olympic Games Olympic Summer Games Racism Awareness Second World War Track and Field We Will Do Better WWII |