The Black Hum

history, society, culture · EN

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 b