Clyde Wray Places Saint John’s Black Leaders At Centre Stage

Huddle Presents: Home Office

The local poet and playwright was bothered by a series of murals in the city centre that featured eight historical figures – all white. It inspired him to produce “We Were Here”, the stories of eight black Canadians brought to life on the stage in partnership with the Saint John Theatre Company. On this week’s episode, Clyde chats with host Mark Leger about historical figures like Cornelius Sparrow, an escaped slave from Virginia who owned a barbershop and saloon in the mid-19th century, and Lena O’Ree, a housekeeper at a local hotel who took a stand and walked through the front door when even black celebrities like Louis Armstrong had to use the back door.