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On Account of Darkness: Shining Light on Race and Sport
For marginalized athletes past and present, achievement can bring celebrity without equality and recognition without opportunity.
In many ways, Ontario’s Chatham-Kent region is a microcosm of Canadian multiculturalism. As a terminus of the Underground Railroad, it has long been home to a large Black community, Walpole Island and Delaware First Nations are nearby, and many interned Japanese Canadians worked on local farms during World War II. The history of sport in the region is emblematic of the challenges that have confronted generations of non-white athletes nationwide. Each chapter uses the story of a local athlete—some famous, others more obscure—to illuminate one aspect of the evolving relationship between race and sport in North America. Combining tales of personal triumph with sports history and social commentary, On Account of Darkness examines systemic racism and ambivalent attitudes that persist to this day.
In many ways, Ontario’s Chatham-Kent region is a microcosm of Canadian multiculturalism. As a terminus of the Underground Railroad, it has long been home to a large Black community, Walpole Island and Delaware First Nations are nearby, and many interned Japanese Canadians worked on local farms during World War II. The history of sport in the region is emblematic of the challenges that have confronted generations of non-white athletes nationwide. Each chapter uses the story of a local athlete—some famous, others more obscure—to illuminate one aspect of the evolving relationship between race and sport in North America. Combining tales of personal triumph with sports history and social commentary, On Account of Darkness examines systemic racism and ambivalent attitudes that persist to this day.
- GenresSports
264 pages, Paperback
Published May 17, 2022
2 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 3, 2022
Read if you want to learn about:
- The history of racism in sport
- A specific focus on Canadian history and Canadian stories
- Incredible true stories of BIPOC athletes throughout history
This astonishing and incredibly well-researched book tells the history of racism perpetrated by white settlers in Ontario against Black and Indigenous persons and other Canadian immigrants, and how that racism streamed into organized sport. This book accounts true stories of marginalized athletes from all kinds of sport, including hockey, baseball, lacrosse, boxing, MMA, equestrian harness racing, and more. These stories are as enlightening as they are gut-wrenching. This book and these stories are a humbling reminder that there is always more to learn, and to always be listening to the stories of the past. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about the history of race and sport in Canada.
- The history of racism in sport
- A specific focus on Canadian history and Canadian stories
- Incredible true stories of BIPOC athletes throughout history
This astonishing and incredibly well-researched book tells the history of racism perpetrated by white settlers in Ontario against Black and Indigenous persons and other Canadian immigrants, and how that racism streamed into organized sport. This book accounts true stories of marginalized athletes from all kinds of sport, including hockey, baseball, lacrosse, boxing, MMA, equestrian harness racing, and more. These stories are as enlightening as they are gut-wrenching. This book and these stories are a humbling reminder that there is always more to learn, and to always be listening to the stories of the past. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about the history of race and sport in Canada.
April 30, 2022
This may be one of the most timely and important books for Canadians to read. Especially Canadian sports fans. Kennedy presents a well researched and very different history to the one many of us believe exists. It is a history many of us have refused to see or feel uncomfortable with. In many ways we have been exposed to an alternative history of sport than the one that clearly took place. This book offers a much needed platform to both well known and little known athletes and it was nothing if not enlightening. I also appreciated that the author acknowledged his own privileges and is using his voice to amplify the voices of others.
There is no way one can finish this book and maintain that we in Canada live in a totally fair and anti-racist society. Although how some still claim that is beyond me!
Thank you to Ian for sending me an e-arc in exchange of an honest review!
There is no way one can finish this book and maintain that we in Canada live in a totally fair and anti-racist society. Although how some still claim that is beyond me!
Thank you to Ian for sending me an e-arc in exchange of an honest review!
January 20, 2026
This book made my jaw drop many times, and it was difficult for me to put it down. “On Account of Darkness” by Ian Kennedy is a compelling and engaging non-fiction book that shines a light on Black, Indigenous, and Japanese Canadian athletes who primarily grew up in the Chatham-Kent area in Ontario, Canada. The author shares his interactions and stories with these athletes who have faced systematic racism and continue to fight for equality in both the world of sport and their lives. The book uncovers the dark history of racism in sports and how seemingly peaceful, thriving Canadian towns discriminated against athletes of colour, no matter how old they were or how talented they were at the sport. However, the book also touches on how the world of sport has connected athletes who have been discriminated against outside of sport, and how sport can become the outlet for this discrimination, and a way to end it.
If I were to use two adjectives to describe this book, they would be powerful and insightful. This book is extremely powerful and brings the stories of countless Canadian marginalized athletes into the light. All the stories and interactions the author shares with us in the book are stories I would have never known if it was not for this book, but the storytellers themselves would also not have a platform to share these stories with, as well. Racism in sports is not talked about enough, but Kennedy has created an outlet for personal, first-hand experiences to be shared. Being able to learn about the extreme discrimination that has taken place so close to us opens people’s eyes and makes us think about the opportunities we have now that many people did not have in the past. This especially applies to kids who are the same age as many of the people in the book were when they went through these life-changing times. The book is also extremely insightful as it allows these primary resources to be shared with readers through direct quotes and interactions Kennedy has had with these people. First-hand interactions make the book feel more personal and evoke a stronger sense of sympathy and emotion in readers.
I learned many different things in this book, but what I found the most interesting was the fact that there was a significant amount of physical abuse by the spectators in all kinds of sports games in Chatham-Kent during this time. Today, jeering at children’s sports games is strictly prohibited, and there are often codes of conduct for sports fields directed at parents and spectators. However, during the time when an all-Black baseball team was a disgrace to society, physical abuse was encouraged by spectators, players, and coaches, no matter if they were on the opposing team or simply watching. It is extremely disturbing to imagine a group of children trying to leave a field, court, or rink, and having to be forced to engage in physical fights to get out. It did not matter if the team won or not, the physical abuse and extreme jeering always waited for the players after the game was over. Thinking of this happening today is almost unimaginable.
Something I really liked about this book was the diversity of marginalized groups of athletes included. The book does not have a specific focus on one race discriminated against in Canada, but instead it focuses on how all these different athletes from different backgrounds went through similar things. It allows the book to be connected on a deeper level and highlights these traumatic struggles the athletes went through, and how often these experiences happened in the same place by the same people. However, something I wish had been slightly different is how in-depth the author went into the stories of these athletes. I appreciate the diversity of the stories and interactions, but it would be interesting if some were longer than others and more direct quotes were included to expand this book to an even greater level of depth and connection. But overall, I found this book to be extremely to my liking, and I enjoyed the variety of sources.
The overall implication I take from this book would be for athletes like me to understand and appreciate the freedom we have to participate in all sports and activities, especially as kids. The number of sacrifices athletes of colour made and the discrimination they endured to play the sports they love is something everyone should respect and understand. Today, I am allowed to walk onto the pitch with my cleats and a soccer ball in hand, and not a single person bats an eye at me. In fact, the amount of diversity on one field would be unimaginable to an athlete just like me one hundred years ago. After reading this book, I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for these athletes, and it has inspired me to share my learning with my teammates, coaches, parents, and friends in my life. Understanding discrimination in sports is extremely important and powerful.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but specifically athletes or anyone interested in learning about the deep history of racism in Canadian sports. It is an eye-opening book for anyone of any age or background, and I truly believe more people should pick this book up. My favourite quote from the book would be from the Black athlete Fred List after going into a restaurant when the waitress said to the group of people he was with, “we can’t serve him here”. Fred was only twelve years old, and a rising star in harness racing. But it did not matter. Not to the waitress, who only saw him as someone with a different skin colour from her. This book allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of this disturbing history in Canada and learning from these primary resources that Ian Kennedy interacted with has inspired me to go out into my own community and learn more about the racism in sports in my area of Canada. Without books like this, people cannot understand the hardships Canadians have gone through in the past and the sacrifices they have made to allow for a better world today. Not only in sports, but in our day-to-day lives, as well.
If I were to use two adjectives to describe this book, they would be powerful and insightful. This book is extremely powerful and brings the stories of countless Canadian marginalized athletes into the light. All the stories and interactions the author shares with us in the book are stories I would have never known if it was not for this book, but the storytellers themselves would also not have a platform to share these stories with, as well. Racism in sports is not talked about enough, but Kennedy has created an outlet for personal, first-hand experiences to be shared. Being able to learn about the extreme discrimination that has taken place so close to us opens people’s eyes and makes us think about the opportunities we have now that many people did not have in the past. This especially applies to kids who are the same age as many of the people in the book were when they went through these life-changing times. The book is also extremely insightful as it allows these primary resources to be shared with readers through direct quotes and interactions Kennedy has had with these people. First-hand interactions make the book feel more personal and evoke a stronger sense of sympathy and emotion in readers.
I learned many different things in this book, but what I found the most interesting was the fact that there was a significant amount of physical abuse by the spectators in all kinds of sports games in Chatham-Kent during this time. Today, jeering at children’s sports games is strictly prohibited, and there are often codes of conduct for sports fields directed at parents and spectators. However, during the time when an all-Black baseball team was a disgrace to society, physical abuse was encouraged by spectators, players, and coaches, no matter if they were on the opposing team or simply watching. It is extremely disturbing to imagine a group of children trying to leave a field, court, or rink, and having to be forced to engage in physical fights to get out. It did not matter if the team won or not, the physical abuse and extreme jeering always waited for the players after the game was over. Thinking of this happening today is almost unimaginable.
Something I really liked about this book was the diversity of marginalized groups of athletes included. The book does not have a specific focus on one race discriminated against in Canada, but instead it focuses on how all these different athletes from different backgrounds went through similar things. It allows the book to be connected on a deeper level and highlights these traumatic struggles the athletes went through, and how often these experiences happened in the same place by the same people. However, something I wish had been slightly different is how in-depth the author went into the stories of these athletes. I appreciate the diversity of the stories and interactions, but it would be interesting if some were longer than others and more direct quotes were included to expand this book to an even greater level of depth and connection. But overall, I found this book to be extremely to my liking, and I enjoyed the variety of sources.
The overall implication I take from this book would be for athletes like me to understand and appreciate the freedom we have to participate in all sports and activities, especially as kids. The number of sacrifices athletes of colour made and the discrimination they endured to play the sports they love is something everyone should respect and understand. Today, I am allowed to walk onto the pitch with my cleats and a soccer ball in hand, and not a single person bats an eye at me. In fact, the amount of diversity on one field would be unimaginable to an athlete just like me one hundred years ago. After reading this book, I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for these athletes, and it has inspired me to share my learning with my teammates, coaches, parents, and friends in my life. Understanding discrimination in sports is extremely important and powerful.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but specifically athletes or anyone interested in learning about the deep history of racism in Canadian sports. It is an eye-opening book for anyone of any age or background, and I truly believe more people should pick this book up. My favourite quote from the book would be from the Black athlete Fred List after going into a restaurant when the waitress said to the group of people he was with, “we can’t serve him here”. Fred was only twelve years old, and a rising star in harness racing. But it did not matter. Not to the waitress, who only saw him as someone with a different skin colour from her. This book allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of this disturbing history in Canada and learning from these primary resources that Ian Kennedy interacted with has inspired me to go out into my own community and learn more about the racism in sports in my area of Canada. Without books like this, people cannot understand the hardships Canadians have gone through in the past and the sacrifices they have made to allow for a better world today. Not only in sports, but in our day-to-day lives, as well.
July 30, 2022
***four and a half shiny stars
“Sports and war are two of the world’s greatest equalizers”.
A Canadian author/teacher’s exhaustively and beautifully-researched treatise into the history of sports, focusing on the systemic racially-abusive treatment of black, indigenous and other marginalized communities (including Japanese-Canadians) from the earliest days of organized amateur and professional leagues, to what we see in current times.
Working through an extensive collection of stories gleaned from interviews, historical societies, and personal experiences, the author builds a picture that is chilling, comprehensive and at the same time, unexpectedly uplifting - stories of poverty, and discrimination, laced throughout with resilience, and the continued battle for equality - as close-knit and marginalized communities pursue their right to compete and play in organized games, including the earliest forms of baseball, lacrosse, ice-hockey, boxing, and horse-racing.
With a context beginning in the mid-eighteen-hundreds, in a pre-civil-war era where white “supremacy” reigned largely unchallenged, it’s difficult for the current-day reader to confront a world where athletic blacks and other marginalized populations were forced to play in highly segregated “coloured-only” leagues, suffering the indignities of racism displayed in team logos and nicknames, in a society that labeled them lazy, criminal, immoral and unworthy.
For indigenous peoples, the stories are perhaps even more appalling - as land, children and religious freedom were systematically seized and appropriated, so too was organized participation in an ancestral sport now deemed playable only by worthy “whites” - lacrosse - a game with an inherently religious core, natively integral to ancient community and governance practices.
As hard-won battles eventually earned the disenfranchised a place in major-league competitions, the author builds a coherent case that athleticism can be seen to slowly “unlock spaces for Black people”, providing a pathway (albeit a rocky one) to the current state of rewards offered through integrated (one might still argue, inherently racist) competitive sports.
Encyclopedic in scope, as disturbing as it is informative in its recounting of events in our not-so-distant past - this is an important book. Essential reading for sports-lovers, lovers of humanity and the social sciences, and anyone interested in high-quality non-fiction, this book serves as a not-so-subtle reminder, and a warning, of how far we may only appear to have come as a society, given the fragility and always-tenuous nature of human morality.
A great big thank you to the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
“Sports and war are two of the world’s greatest equalizers”.
A Canadian author/teacher’s exhaustively and beautifully-researched treatise into the history of sports, focusing on the systemic racially-abusive treatment of black, indigenous and other marginalized communities (including Japanese-Canadians) from the earliest days of organized amateur and professional leagues, to what we see in current times.
Working through an extensive collection of stories gleaned from interviews, historical societies, and personal experiences, the author builds a picture that is chilling, comprehensive and at the same time, unexpectedly uplifting - stories of poverty, and discrimination, laced throughout with resilience, and the continued battle for equality - as close-knit and marginalized communities pursue their right to compete and play in organized games, including the earliest forms of baseball, lacrosse, ice-hockey, boxing, and horse-racing.
With a context beginning in the mid-eighteen-hundreds, in a pre-civil-war era where white “supremacy” reigned largely unchallenged, it’s difficult for the current-day reader to confront a world where athletic blacks and other marginalized populations were forced to play in highly segregated “coloured-only” leagues, suffering the indignities of racism displayed in team logos and nicknames, in a society that labeled them lazy, criminal, immoral and unworthy.
For indigenous peoples, the stories are perhaps even more appalling - as land, children and religious freedom were systematically seized and appropriated, so too was organized participation in an ancestral sport now deemed playable only by worthy “whites” - lacrosse - a game with an inherently religious core, natively integral to ancient community and governance practices.
As hard-won battles eventually earned the disenfranchised a place in major-league competitions, the author builds a coherent case that athleticism can be seen to slowly “unlock spaces for Black people”, providing a pathway (albeit a rocky one) to the current state of rewards offered through integrated (one might still argue, inherently racist) competitive sports.
Encyclopedic in scope, as disturbing as it is informative in its recounting of events in our not-so-distant past - this is an important book. Essential reading for sports-lovers, lovers of humanity and the social sciences, and anyone interested in high-quality non-fiction, this book serves as a not-so-subtle reminder, and a warning, of how far we may only appear to have come as a society, given the fragility and always-tenuous nature of human morality.
A great big thank you to the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
May 20, 2022
Many of us Canadians like to pretend Canada is the melting pot of race and culture that we learn about in school. In reality, Canada is just another country that deals with racism and sexism in all aspects, including that of sport. Admittedly, On Account Of Darkness: Shining Light On Race And Sport by Ian Kennedy is a different type of book than I typically read. Instead of this book being solely one of sport, I read it as a book about marginalized voices speaking out for help. For hope. Kennedy acts as a megaphone to share the stories of those voices that have been ignored.
Most of the references within the pages are localized to the Chatham-Kent area of Ontario, which makes sense given Kennedy’s direct connection, having grown up in the area. Kennedy is a journalist (published in The Hockey News, Canadian Horse Journal and Outdoor Canada magazine) and also a secondary school teacher. Reading this book, it’s clear to see his passion and commitment for bringing light to these dark areas of sport.
The amount of research Kennedy put into this book is staggering to me. The book is not about sports, it is about the colour barrier in many aspects of our lives, sports being only one of them. There is such an immense amount of Canadian history, presented in such a point-blank way. Wars, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, internment camps, POW camps, the Underground Railroad, the KKK, Jim Crow – all of which I only want to read and learn more about.
I’m sure that Kennedy’s journalism experience has made him the writer and author he is. For very distinct chapters and sections of information, the book flowed together beautifully. Chapters began and ended so well, most times sharing some of Kennedy’s personal experience relating to the chapter topic. I also enjoyed how some of the contributing stories connected to one another; again the amount of research done for this book amazes me.
Throughout all these stories, there is a sense of hope. That we can learn. That we can change. That we can be better. As Kennedy says in his introduction, “I’ve changed and, even though my town and our country are not perfect, I’m hopeful.” I feel as long as we make the effort, we will get better.
An amazing book, that I am so happy to have read.
Thank you Ian Kennedy for the complimentary copy to read and review.
Most of the references within the pages are localized to the Chatham-Kent area of Ontario, which makes sense given Kennedy’s direct connection, having grown up in the area. Kennedy is a journalist (published in The Hockey News, Canadian Horse Journal and Outdoor Canada magazine) and also a secondary school teacher. Reading this book, it’s clear to see his passion and commitment for bringing light to these dark areas of sport.
The amount of research Kennedy put into this book is staggering to me. The book is not about sports, it is about the colour barrier in many aspects of our lives, sports being only one of them. There is such an immense amount of Canadian history, presented in such a point-blank way. Wars, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, internment camps, POW camps, the Underground Railroad, the KKK, Jim Crow – all of which I only want to read and learn more about.
I’m sure that Kennedy’s journalism experience has made him the writer and author he is. For very distinct chapters and sections of information, the book flowed together beautifully. Chapters began and ended so well, most times sharing some of Kennedy’s personal experience relating to the chapter topic. I also enjoyed how some of the contributing stories connected to one another; again the amount of research done for this book amazes me.
Throughout all these stories, there is a sense of hope. That we can learn. That we can change. That we can be better. As Kennedy says in his introduction, “I’ve changed and, even though my town and our country are not perfect, I’m hopeful.” I feel as long as we make the effort, we will get better.
An amazing book, that I am so happy to have read.
Thank you Ian Kennedy for the complimentary copy to read and review.
August 25, 2022
𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨!
You don’t need to be a sport fan to read this book, I’m still shocked with these stories. Not easy to read at times but a necessary read for everyone. Full of heartbreaking, shocking but powerful stories this book will keep you engaged from start to finish.
Thank you Ian Kennedy for this gifted copy.
𝗢𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 released May 17, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
You don’t need to be a sport fan to read this book, I’m still shocked with these stories. Not easy to read at times but a necessary read for everyone. Full of heartbreaking, shocking but powerful stories this book will keep you engaged from start to finish.
Thank you Ian Kennedy for this gifted copy.
𝗢𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 released May 17, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
December 20, 2022
A good hard look at race and racism in Ontario. I was particularly interested in the chapters about Japanese internment and sports and the hockey chapters.
July 30, 2023
Very interesting book that everyone should read!
November 2, 2023
I have to say that a tremendous amount of research went into writing this book. I follow a lot of different sports daily and I have been around sports my whole life as a former elite athlete and now as a Coach. Some of the stories go back to the late 1800s and some are more recent. The book examines sports, race, and the history of Chatham-Kent (Ontario). Baseball, hockey, boxing, horse racing, basketball, golf, fishing and the Olympics. On Account of Darkness has stories about excellence and exclusion in all these sports.
Kennedy has collected more than 100 years of stories about athletes who excelled amid systemic racism. This movement helped him realize that in addition to celebrating athletes who fought for inclusion, we need to also recognize how sport acted (and still acts) as a vehicle for exclusion.
The book includes stories about the Chatham Colored All-Stars and baseball Hall-of-Famer Fergie Jenkins, but Kennedy said there have been many Black, Indigenous and Japanese-Canadian athletes from the area who have made an impact on the sport. Other athletes featured in the book include professional fisher Bob Izumi, baseball players Herb and Mel Wakabayashi, Rollie Miles both a baseball and football star and hockey player Gerry Binga.
One of the most interesting facts in Kennedy’s book is about the title of the book comes from an umpire’s decision at what was supposed to be the deciding game for the Chatham Colored All-Stars at the Ontario Baseball Association championship in 1934. The score was tied in the 11th inning of the third game and the umpire called it because of darkness, even though there was still enough light to play more innings. The team won the championship anyway after the next game. Because of Kennedy’s research, these stories will forever be preserved for all to enjoy and learn from.
Kennedy has collected more than 100 years of stories about athletes who excelled amid systemic racism. This movement helped him realize that in addition to celebrating athletes who fought for inclusion, we need to also recognize how sport acted (and still acts) as a vehicle for exclusion.
The book includes stories about the Chatham Colored All-Stars and baseball Hall-of-Famer Fergie Jenkins, but Kennedy said there have been many Black, Indigenous and Japanese-Canadian athletes from the area who have made an impact on the sport. Other athletes featured in the book include professional fisher Bob Izumi, baseball players Herb and Mel Wakabayashi, Rollie Miles both a baseball and football star and hockey player Gerry Binga.
One of the most interesting facts in Kennedy’s book is about the title of the book comes from an umpire’s decision at what was supposed to be the deciding game for the Chatham Colored All-Stars at the Ontario Baseball Association championship in 1934. The score was tied in the 11th inning of the third game and the umpire called it because of darkness, even though there was still enough light to play more innings. The team won the championship anyway after the next game. Because of Kennedy’s research, these stories will forever be preserved for all to enjoy and learn from.
February 4, 2023
This is an excellent book describing racism in sports. When are we going to stop this sort of thing.
May 25, 2022
I received an e-copy from author Ian Kennedy in advance of publication. After reading it, my co-host and I interviewed Kennedy for our podcast, “Canada Reads American Style” AND I bought my own hard copy directly from the publisher, Tidewater Press.
Why? Because Kennedy uses his storytelling expertise to share compelling accounts of historical, systemic racism in sports in the Chatham-Kent, Ontario area. We are introduced to Black, Indigenous, and Japanese-Canadian interned athletes and teams who excelled in their respective sports but were denied the recognition they so richly deserved. As readers, we are drawn in by Kennedy’s personal journey of awareness as well as his talent for going beyond the headlines and digging into the subtext of the lives of BIPOC athletes.
This is not just a book for sports fans. This is high quality non-fiction that I guarantee any and all readers will appreciate. Read this book and then buy a copy for anyone who has ever said, “I never learned this in school.”
Why? Because Kennedy uses his storytelling expertise to share compelling accounts of historical, systemic racism in sports in the Chatham-Kent, Ontario area. We are introduced to Black, Indigenous, and Japanese-Canadian interned athletes and teams who excelled in their respective sports but were denied the recognition they so richly deserved. As readers, we are drawn in by Kennedy’s personal journey of awareness as well as his talent for going beyond the headlines and digging into the subtext of the lives of BIPOC athletes.
This is not just a book for sports fans. This is high quality non-fiction that I guarantee any and all readers will appreciate. Read this book and then buy a copy for anyone who has ever said, “I never learned this in school.”
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews