Mary McCarthy Brandt, PhD
Dr. Mary McCarthy Brandt is a 6th generation woman of African descent, Fredericton (NB) -based writer, educator, and historian dedicated to preserving the histories of Black New Brunswickers. Over the past decade, she has emerged as a prominent public commentator and has promoted greater awareness of the historical and current contributions of Black New Brunswickers. A PhD graduate of the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, her scholarly research focused on segregated and forgotten graveyards in New Brunswick. In 2015, McCarthy Brandt won a human rights case against Shoppers Drug Mart for an incident of racial profiling. Her writing was featured in the collection Black Writers Matter, an anthology of African Canadian writing on contemporary issues. She was also featured in Chatelaine Magazine as one of “33 Black Canadians Making Change Now” for her work identifying systemic and anti-black racism. In April 2021 Dr. McCarthy Brandt started a non-profit entitled “REACH in New Brunswick” - REACH means, Remembering Each African Cemetery’s History in NB. The non-profit has two mandates: (i) to eradicate the erasure of NB Black History and (ii) To find, locate, document and repair African burials in New Brunswick. In May 2022, Dr. McCarthy Brandt was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters for her social justice work from St Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Dr McCarthy Brandt’s mission is to raise the profile of her beautiful Black Community, highlight our success and to re-insert healthy narratives about her community of African descent.
What are you most proud of professionally? And who or why?
I’m proud of my Human Rights Win in 2015, and why - because I proved that Racial Profiling does exist and we should call out the offenders when we can.
What’s your vision for Atlantic Canada in 10 years? What’s our biggest opportunity now?
My vision for Atlantic Canada, and specifically New Brunswick, is to increase awareness of the legacy of the early African Settlers. Specifically I want our education curriculum to include positive stories, events that raise the profile of our ancestors lives and how they lived and flourished in sometimes a hostile environment. The biggest opportunity is to secure confirmed funding for my nonprofit, REACH in New Brunswick (Remembering Each African Cemetery's History in NB). This nonprofit will continue to focus on our two mandates of working to rupture the erasure of Black History, and to document, find, and repair lost and forgotten Black graves in New Brunswick
What was your greatest stage of growth? What made it a shift for you?
One of my biggest stages of growth was obtaining my Masters in Education, with a major in Critical Studies. It was a shift for me, as the masters thesis was autobiographical and it allowed me to celebrate who I was, and define and name my experiences, so that I could tell my story and move through the incidents of racism and sexism. It was a painful but positive time of growth in my life.
What’s your favourite or most read book or podcast?
My favourite podcast is Archives and Things by Mellisa J. Nelson. My favourite book recently was Viola Davis' book, "Finding Me".
What’s your deepest learning from this past year? How did/will you apply it?
My deepest learning is receiving the honorary doctorate from St Thomas University (May 2022). It taught me that people were listening to me and my work as an advocate for my Black community, people were listening. I was so humbled.
Who’s inspired you, directly or indirectly? How have they inspired you?
One of my biggest mentors and inspiration was Aude Lorde, who died in 1994. Aude's work mentored me through my masters thesis and taught me I did have a voice and I should speak my voice.
What would you have done differently?
Nothing... I learned from all my choices, bad and good.
What are the principles you live by?
I live my integrity, respect, of all people. I try to not judge or take on any negative baggage, but if necessary distance myself from those individuals. My goal is to be loving supportive and pass my knowledge and truths to the next generation.
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Black Historian, Black Community Advocate, Animal lover, Policy maker, and speaker for the lost lives, my Ancestors of African descent who were segregated in life and death!