“I Won’t Take Bail Until We All Get It”: Gender, Black Power, 1960s Student activism and the Sir George Williams Affair—An interview with Brenda Dash

Abstract

This research interview explores the Sir George Williams student protest of 1969. Described as Canada’s best-known manifestation of anti-Black racism, students occupied the Sir George Williams University in protest of alleged racism toward Black and Caribbean students. While much has been written about this watershed affair, the distinct experiences of women have not received much attention. However, community narratives suggest that women played important active roles. What were women’s experiences of this protest, and how did their participation shape the legacy of the event? Featuring an interview with Brenda Dash, dubbed “a ringleader” of the affair, this article explores a frontline view of this episode in 1960s student activism. Dash offers an in-depth perspective on her participation in the affair, her arrest, and the trial. This interview lays the groundwork for locating this protest within the broader ideological struggles of the civil rights, Black Power, and social justice movements.