The Black + White Truth about Oscar Peterson and Racism in Canada

OSCAR PETERSON IS A MUSICAL LEGEND. Every few years, we are reminded of this fact when a new building is dedicated in his honour, a protégé receives a new scholarship bearing his name, or a new hip hop album incorporates his jazzy sound. Despite the numerous accolades he has received, it never feels like enough. Further proof of Peterson’s under-appreciation is evident in the scant number of documentaries made about him. While Peterson’s life is worthy of ongoing examination, one cannot overlook the blemishes of history and elements of systemic racism from which his significant career emerged when showering him with praise.

This kind of inadvertent erasure can occur even with the best of intentions. A perfect example of this is Barry Avrich’s documentary , which uses Peterson’s music as an