Black History Month: The legacy of Violet King, Canada's first Black female lawyer

February is Black History Month, and we recognize it by celebrating the contributions that Black Canadians have made to Canada's history and culture. 

CBC Calgary is highlighting the legacies of three Black Calgarians who broke barriers, changed the city's history and influenced its present.

This story was originally published on Feb. 24, 2021.

To understand the impact of Violet King's legal career is to recognize a series of broken barriers.

In 1953, she became the first Black graduate of the University of Alberta's faculty of law.

She was the first Black woman to practise law in Canada after being called to the bar in 1954.

And she would become the first Black lawyer admitted to the Law Society of Alberta.

"She is just a trailblazer in terms of being a Black Canadian, and having her achievements reach such high levels, during a time that was historically quite discriminatory and racist toward people of African descent," said Dodd.

"Today there are Black student law associations, there are all types of associations specifically for different Black professionals in their fields. And I feel like somebody like Violet King was a trailblazer to allow for those types of organizations to exist today.

"So, her impact in Alberta and in Canada was truly immeasurable."

Born in Calgary in 1929, King lived in the northwest community of Sunnyside and went to Crescent Heights High School, where she excelled, Dodd said.

King would attend the University of Alberta in 1948. Six years later, she would become Canada's first Black female lawyer.

And to accomplish what she did, Dodd said, King was likely confronted with both racism and sexism in a field that was overwhelmingly represented by white men.

"I think it says a lot about her character, it says a lot about her ability to look past, probably, comments and behaviours that were discriminatory," Dodd said.