Gwendolyn Robinson is an Historian at the W.I.S.H.
Centre in Chatham. She is a descendant of the historic Shadd and
Robbins families in the area. In 1986 her book Seek the Truth:
A Story of Chatham’s Black Community which she wrote with
John W. Robinson, was released. The book is an informative, insightful
narrative on the Canadian Black experience. This book appropriately
interprets an important part of the unique African Canadian culture
to present and future generations. Robinson is an officer in the
Chatham/Kent Black Historical Society.
She set out to write "SEEK THE TRUTH" when
her son was writing a student assignment on black history. Robinson
was dismayed by the lack of published material available detailing
the history and contributions of Blacks from the Chatham area. This
book has two basic purposes -- To give young black students knowledge
of the roles played by Kent County's Black population, in particular
the development of Chatham, to instill a sense of pride in their heritage
-- To give young white students an accurate understanding of the problems
faced by Blacks and of the creative roles they played.
