Brown, Rosemary (1930–)

Canadian politician and activist. Born Rosemary Wedderburn, June 17, 1930, at Kingston, Jamaica; dau. of Ralph Wedderburn (businessman) and Enid James; raised by grandmother, Imogene Wilson-James, one of the founding members of the left-wing People's National Party (PNP) in Jamaica; niece of Leila James-Tomlinson, judge; McGill University, BA, 1954; University of British Columbia, Master of Social Work, 1964; m. William (Bill) Brown (clinical psychiatrist), 1955; children: Cleta Brown (b. 1957), Gary (b. 1959), and Jonathon (b. 1965).

Feminist activist and 1st black woman to be elected to any parliament in Canada; became a Canadian citizen; elected to the executive committee of British Columbia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (BCAACP), an activist organization patterned after the NAACP in US; became involved in the growing feminist and peace movements and spent much of her time lobbying politicians, organizing demonstrations, and writing letters to newspapers; joined the Vancouver Status of Women Council (late 1960s); joined provincial wing of left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP); in British Columbia, elected to provincial legislature for the riding of Vancouver-Burrard, part of the 1st ever NDP government in the history of the province (1972); was able to retain her seat in the next election (1975); focused on the plight of immigrant women, the lack of affordable housing, foreign ownership of natural resources, corporate control of the environment, and the sexism and paternalism that she believed was rampant in her party; was a member of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women and the federal-government-sponsored Advisory Council on the Status of Women; reelected in the new riding of Burnaby-Edmonds in the provincial election (1979); retired from parliament (1986); continued to speak and lecture throughout Canada and remained active in the international campaign to promote peace. Received the Black Award, National Black Coalition of Canada (1974).

See also autobiography Being Brown (1989); and Women in World History.