George Braxton’s life is not very well documented, but he was born in Virginia in the mid-nineteenth century. There was an influx of Southern Blacks into the Northeast at this time as prospects were much better in the north and the distance from slavery provided some protection, but not immunity. Post American Civil War, the North provided somewhat of a haven from Jim Crow laws of the South. Again, the Northern States, and British North America and then Canada were not free of racism, which makes Braxton’s accomplishments quite remarkable.
George Braxton trained as a chef at Wellesley College in Massachusetts from 1883-1886, before joining the Algonquin resort, and publishing a cookbook, possible the earliest Black publication in Canada.
Photos: Champ Chefs. https://www.champchefs.com/retrospectives/canadas-1st-african-american-executive-chef.html
