“Union Street” is a Canadian documentary focusing on a microcosm of black history in the City of Vancouver, particularly a district known in East Vancouver as Hogan’s Alley. It had a rich history for black Vancouver for almost a century where train porters, speakeasies, juke joints, restaurants and thriving businesses existed with musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Jimi Hendrik and Ella Fitzgerald passing through.
Like the black suburb of Liberty Square in Miami, Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver was deemed an example of urban blight and set for widescale demolition in the 1960’s by white politicians and government bureaucrats. As noted by Joshua Tecumseh Robertson a “decolonial curator and writer” this was but an attempt of colonialists and white supremacists to eradicate the black community. Liberty Square was razed to make way for higher end housing for the wealthy of Miami Beach as rising waters caused by global warming will destroy their pricey real estate whereas Liberty Square is several hundred feet above sea level. A rather blatant land grab by private interests supported by Metro Dade politicians. Hogan’s Alley was nothing “but urban blight” crippling the natural regeneration of the city according to the white politicians and bureaucrats. Rather a shame the documentary didn’t mention who economically benefitted from the demolishing of Hogan’s Alley. Follow the money!
Calmer personages supplement Robertson’s polemics with heartfelt personal experiences as they try to revitalize Hogan’s Alley to reflect black cultural and economic passions and ambitions.
And introducing the elephant in the room and speaking of colonization and white supremacy did Hogan’s Alley displace Indigenous populations of the Squamish, Musquean and Tsleil Waututh residing in the Vancouver area?
Despite the lack of bringing into play the economics behind the destruction of Hogan’s Alley we are offered an interesting sliver of black history although not enough as the documentary shifts to explore what it is like to be black or partially black in Canada it becomes less interesting and more on the vanilla side of the equation i.e. seen and heard that before and experienced by many immigrants to Canada.
Take away what you find valuable in the documentary but for me it was oft repeated by commentators the necessity of racial and ethnic groups to have a hub or centre where they can gather and feel safe. Failing that the commentators speak of alienation, loneliness, informal segregation, stereotyping, being unwanted and displaced. There are hints from the commentators about how this can be undone and simply said it might be the ability to be yourself in a place you feel that you belong.
British Columbian Jamilia Pomeroy directs. This documentary feature launches 20February2024 on Telus Optik TV channel 8 and on watch.telusoriginals.com and will be in Vancouver theatres for Black History Month.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 78/100.
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