The Black Hum

Knockabout Media

What if you were sent to war armed not with a gun, but with a shovel and pickaxe? In 1914, as the First World War erupted, thousands of Canadian men rushed to enlist. But when Black men stepped forward to serve, they were turned away. It was “a white man’s war,” they were told. Canada didn’t want a “checkerboard army.” What followed became one of the most powerful and overlooked chapters in Canadian and Black military history. The Black Hum explores the remarkable story of No. 2 Construction Battalion: Canada’s only all-Black battalion during World War I. Through powerful storytelling, historical research, and untold accounts, this military history podcast reveals the resilience, courage, and lasting legacy of Black Canadian soldiers who served their country in the face of racism and rejection. If you’re interested in Black history, Canadian history, the First World War, and military history, this podcast brings their voices back to life. Follow The Black Hum now to discover the untold stories of courage, service, and resistance that shaped history. *Download our Discussing Questions for your class* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1. Charlie Kelly Takes the Mound

    EPISODE 1

    Charlie Kelly Takes the Mound

    In the season premiere of The Black Hum, we trace the extraordinary life of Charlie Kelly, a standout baseball player from Ingersoll, Ontario, and a member of Canada’s No. 2 Construction Battalion. From local ballfields to the First World War, Kelly’s story reveals how sport offered both escape and opportunity. The episode culminates in the legendary “Forestry Game,” where Kelly took the mound before a crowd that included the King of England, challenging racial barriers through sheer talent.  *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles Writer Nuruddin Qorane Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Associate Producer Cindy Charles Voice Director Sonia Gemmiti Researcher Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Series Consultants Kathy Grant & Mathias Joost This series features interviews with Lt. Jerome Downey, Robert Downey, Jr., Michael Marville, Stephen Dame, Mathias Joost, Kathy Grant, Constance Backhouse, Dr. Dorothy Williams Additional voices by Keith Francis & Matthew Barnett A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  2. Hewburn Greenidge: The Dark Horse

    EPISODE 2

    Hewburn Greenidge: The Dark Horse

    A Black medical student. An all-Black battalion. A war that needed his skills but never fully recognized his service. In this episode of The Black Hum, we look at the life of Dr. Hewburn Greenidge as it stretched from British Guiana to Winnipeg to the timber camps of the Jura Mountains and back to the heart of the Amazon. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles Writer Nuruddin Qorane Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Associate Producer Cindy Charles Voice Director & Editor Sonia Gemmiti Researcher Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Series Consultants Kathy Grant & Mathias Joost This series features interviews with Lt. Jerome Downey, Robert Downey, Jr., Michael Marville, Stephen Dame, Mathias Joost, Kathy Grant, Constance Backhouse, Dr. Dorothy Williams Additional voices by Keith Francis & Matthew Barnett A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  3. George and the Fighting Downeys

    EPISODE 3

    George and the Fighting Downeys

    George Alexander Downey was a veteran of two world wars and the patriarch of one of Nova Scotia’s most storied families. From the forests of wartime France to the communities of North Preston, this is the story of his service, sacrifice, and the legacy he passed on to generations who would carry his fighting spirit into the boxing ring and beyond. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles Writer Nuruddin Qorane Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Associate Producer Cindy Charles Voice Director & Editor Sonia Gemmiti Researcher Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Series Consultants Kathy Grant & Mathias Joost This series features interviews with Lt. Jerome Downey, Robert Downey, Jr., Michael Marville, Stephen Dame, Mathias Joost, Kathy Grant, Constance Backhouse, Dr. Dorothy Williams Additional voices by Keith Francis & Matthew Barnett A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  4. Rufus Rockhead: The Night's Most Important Man

    EPISODE 4

    Rufus Rockhead: The Night's Most Important Man

    In this episode, we trace the rise of Rufus Rockhead and the making of Rockhead’s Paradise — the club that became the epicentre of Montreal’s jazz scene. It’s the story of how one man’s ambition transformed a city’s nightlife and created a powerful space for music, community, and resistance. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles Writer Nuruddin Qorane Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Associate Producer Cindy Charles Voice Director & Editor Sonia Gemmiti Researcher Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Series Consultants Kathy Grant & Mathias Joost This series features interviews with Lt. Jerome Downey, Robert Downey, Jr., Michael Marville, Stephen Dame, Mathias Joost, Kathy Grant, Constance Backhouse, Dr. Dorothy Williams Additional voices by Keith Francis & Matthew Barnett Featuring "Hello Montreal" performed by Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  5. The Trials of E. Lionel Cross

    EPISODE 5

    The Trials of E. Lionel Cross

    In this episode, we chart the path of E. Lionel Cross — soldier, trailblazing Black lawyer, and civil-rights advocate — and his campaign to hold the Ku Klux Klan accountable after the Oakville cross burning and kidnapping. It is a story about the power of the courtroom and the unfinished work of justice in Canada. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles Writer Nuruddin Qorane Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Associate Producer Cindy Charles Voice Director Sonia Gemmiti Researcher Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Series Consultants Kathy Grant & Mathias Joost This series features interviews with Lt. Jerome Downey, Robert Downey, Jr., Michael Marville, Stephen Dame, Mathias Joost, Kathy Grant, Constance Backhouse, Dr. Dorothy Williams Additional voices by Keith Francis & Matthew Barnett A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  6. Marching North with Yolanda T. Marshall

    EPISODE 6

    Marching North with Yolanda T. Marshall

    Today, we bring to you an interview with author Yolanda T. Marshall. Yolanda is an award-winning author of more than 20 books for children, including C is for Carnival, A Piece of Black Cake for Santa, Hot Cross Buns for Everyone, and Brown Girl in the Snow, which was selected by both CBC and The Globe and Mail as among the Best Books of 2025.  Marching North is her latest book. When Aunty Evangelina gifts Abiola an old compass, it becomes more than just a keepsake; it symbolises direction, courage, and identity. She introduces Abiola to the remarkable legacy of Black Caribbean soldiers who served and fought for Canada during the First and Second World Wars. These men travelled from the warmth of their Caribbean nations to foreign battlefields, facing prejudice and hardship while remaining determined to serve with honour. Many returned to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, and community leaders. They were true heroes whose resilience helped shape Canada’s history.  Clip courtesy of Read with Harp. More about Grimelle starring Cindy Charles. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles Writer Nuruddin Qorane Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Associate Producer Cindy Charles Voice Director Sonia Gemmiti Researcher Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Series Consultants Kathy Grant & Mathias Joost This series features interviews with Lt. Jerome Downey, Robert Downey, Jr., Michael Marville, Stephen Dame, Mathias Joost, Kathy Grant, Constance Backhouse, Dr. Dorothy Williams Additional voices by Keith Francis & Matthew Barnett A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  7. Season 2 starts February 10

    SEASON 2 TRAILER

    Season 2 starts February 10

    The Black Hum returns for a second season, tracing five lives that reflect the broader Black Canadian experience in the twentieth century. These include Rufus Rockhead, founder of Montreal’s legendary Rockhead’s Paradise nightclub; E. Lionel Cross, Toronto’s first Black lawyer and a key figure in early civil rights battles; Charlie Kelly, a barrier-breaking baseball player whose career unfolded across colour lines; Hewburn Greenidge, the first Black graduate of a Canadian medical school west of Ontario; and George Downey, patriarch of the Fighting Downeys boxing family. This season brings these overlooked lives into focus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 min
See All Season 2 (7)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

What if you were sent to war armed not with a gun, but with a shovel and pickaxe? In 1914, as the First World War erupted, thousands of Canadian men rushed to enlist. But when Black men stepped forward to serve, they were turned away. It was “a white man’s war,” they were told. Canada didn’t want a “checkerboard army.” What followed became one of the most powerful and overlooked chapters in Canadian and Black military history. The Black Hum explores the remarkable story of No. 2 Construction Battalion: Canada’s only all-Black battalion during World War I. Through powerful storytelling, historical research, and untold accounts, this military history podcast reveals the resilience, courage, and lasting legacy of Black Canadian soldiers who served their country in the face of racism and rejection. If you’re interested in Black history, Canadian history, the First World War, and military history, this podcast brings their voices back to life. Follow The Black Hum now to discover the untold stories of courage, service, and resistance that shaped history. *Download our Discussing Questions for your class* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Channel
    Knockabout Media
  • Creator
    Knockabout Media
  • Episodes
    12
  • Seasons
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Knockabout Media
  • Show Website
    The Black Hum
  • Provider
    Knockabout Media

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