As we celebrate Black History Month, generally speaking, we applaud and reminisce over the achievements and strides made by some of the well-known advocates of change. People like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver to name a few.
This month, I thought it would be of interest to celebrate and bring to life some of the achievements and stories of those who may only be known by a few but their imprints have left a lasting legacy for our society.
We’ll even have a special video segment later this month with a special young man, Paul Tshuma so keep reading and watching our blog this month.
Although I never met him, Frank Dancy was an important person in my life.
Frank was my mom’s father and yes, my grandfather and we need to hear a little of his story.
Frank Dancy was born in North Carolina in the late 1800’s. Slavery while abolished, the remnants of racism and terrible treatment of people of color still had a horrible grip in many states and communities and against that backdrop, my grandfather grew up.
Frank loved to work with his hands and begun developing skills using leather to which one day, his parents realized that for Frank to have a real shot at a future, he would have to leave North Carolina.
His parents realized that for Frank to have a real shot at a future, he would have to leave North Carolina.
So at 17 years old, Frank left the confines of North Carolina and headed to Chicago to live with relatives.
It was in Chicago that he began hearing about the greater opportunities that could become a possibility in Canada and specifically, Montreal. Frank had no idea where Montreal even was but the idea intrigued him and he started vigorously pursuing the idea of moving to this unknown country, this unknown city.
Remember that he became proficient in working with leather products back in North Carolina? Frank decided that he wanted to be a shoe maker, not just a shoe repair man and to open his own shop.
So in late 1918, Frank make his trek up north to Montreal. It was daunting and scary, not knowing anyone, there was this French culture that was part of this new landscape but Frank decided to embrace his new home, settling in the downtown area.
It was there that he met his wife, a French Canadian lady name Marie. They married, Frank started his fledgling shoe repair store and not long after, they gave birth to my mom, Beatrice.
Sadly, Marie passed away when their daughter was 2 years old so life became increasingly difficult as Frank was juggling the rigors of growing his Shoe Store and bringing up his daughter.
Life became increasingly difficult as Frank was juggling the rigors of growing his Shoe Store and bringing up his daughter.
Frank had several store fronts in the downtown area but in the late 1940’s, made the decision to move west to the growing suburb of Lachine to help grow his business and lay a foundation for his and his daughter’s future.
This move proved to be a success as the competition was non-existent in the west end of the city and news of his skill and proficiency grew by word of mouth.
Frank’s specialty became making custom, quality leather shoes for customers who had serious foot problems for which regular shoes off the rack were of no help.
At the height of his success, people would come from different parts of the city and other provinces to have a pair of custom made shoes made by Frank.
Sadly, Frank passed away in November of 1963 but his skill, his industrious and adventurous spirit to take a chance at a better life for himself by moving away from all he knew, bettered the lives of so many who needed what Frank could produce.
He may not be in history books or have his face adorned on a monument or street but Frank symbolized the spirit of so many African Americans and Canadians who, dreamed for more than what their present circumstances at the time looked like.
And many like Frank, had the will, determination, drive and dream to take a chance to see what could happen.
And many like Frank, had the will, determination, drive and dream to take a chance to see what could happen.
One of Frank’s favorite lines that he would say that my dad would often quote was “if you aim for the sky, you just might hit the top of the lamppost”.
When I think of profiles in courage, it's more than spinning a record or popping a lyric and becoming famous: what is it that we are doing to make life, our community, our city, our world, our family a little better than how we find it?
I think Frank Dancy did that and so much more. Leaving what he knew to forge a new destiny into the unknown, Frank was a true pioneer.
Frank Dancy; a Profile in Courage. A life lived with purpose!
Dave
It's going to be a great month!!!!
#forwardFridays #entrrepreneur #dreamer #Blackhistorymonth #profileincourage #hope #risktakker #blog #speaker #shoerepairshop #Traveler #skill #adventurer #industrious
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