Dorothy Williams

Dr. Williams has worked as an historian, author, educator, researcher, content developer, and consultant. Dr. Williams specializes in Black Canadian history and has authored three books and contributed to other scholarly and academic publications. Her first book was Blacks in Montreal, 1638-1986: An Urban Demography, was written at the behest of the Quebec Human Rights Commission in 1989, during their study of racism in Montreal’s housing market. Her second work, published in 1997, The Road to Now: A History of Blacks in Montreal, remains the only chronological study of Blacks on the island of Montreal. Her most recent book in 1998, Les Noirs à Montreal, Essai de demographic urbaine, was a translation of Blacks in Montreal.

With a strong afro-centric focused perspective, Dr. Williams’ has penned both popular and scholarly articles in journals, magazines and newspapers about Black culture in Canada.  Dr. Williams has often been invited to present and lecture, as well as to conduct teacher training and librarian workshops. She has also given public presentations in dozens of venues, from bookstores and cafes to community centres, museums and libraries.

As a researcher, Dorothy’s long-term research has concentrated on the creation of popular reference materials about Black history in Canada with the objective of making Black history accessible.

As a content developer, and consultant, her unique historical knowledge is in demand in diverse fields. She has consulted on several films—the most notable by the NFB such as its award winning production of Show Girls, (1998) and Martine Chartrand’s Black Soul/Ame Noire, (2001). She also researched and wrote the content for the website, Historians Recount/Les Historien(ne)s raconent, (October, 2003).

Dorothy grew up in the historic Black community of Little Burgundy in Montreal and acquired over 30 years work and volunteer experience within the community.

Dr. Williams is President of Blacbiblio.com, Inc. which produces the ABC’s of Canadian Black History kit in order to address the need for Black pedagogical resources for educators. Her volunteer work spans over three decades and most recently she has taken on the position of President of DaCosta-Angelique Institute, Quebec’s only Black think-tank.

Her current interests and community service lie in the areas of history, identity and race, family support, book history, mental health, Black empowerment, community economic development, entrepreneurship and inclusive education.

Dr. Williams many years of service have led to recognition and honours, including being named a Quebec Laureate, in 2002 with the conferring of: The Anne Greenup Prize: Le Prix québécois de la citoyenneté 2002, pour la lutte contre le racisme et la promotion de la participation civique. Through the years, other awards and distinctions bestowed: 

• Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada honour: Black Canadian Women: Stories of Strength, Courage and Vision, 2018
• Hommage pour la contribution à la préservation du patrimoine historique des communautés noires de Montréal, Bottin Magazine, Montréal, (2007)
• Women of Merit, Playmas Montreal Cultural Association (2011)
• Historian of Renown, Centre R.I.R.E. et Ville de Québec (2003)
• E.J. Josey Scholarship, Black Caucus of the American Library Association (2000-2001)
• Black History Month Calendar, Ville de Montréal, Table de concertation (1995)
• The Mathieu da Costa Award, Black Coalition of Quebec  (1993)