In Zambia he is known as the father of pediatric medicine but Chifumbe Chintu is hardly a household name in Canada – and that made the U of T alumnus a great fit for Black History Month.
“What is important is to document and tell our stories,” said Rosemary Sadlier, president of the Ontario Black History Society. “Our stories are buried and they’re not always about politicians or inventors.”
Sadlier made the comments at the Feb. 4 unveiling of a special exhibit celebrating Black History Month at the Faculty of Physical Education and Health. Throughout the month, the Athletic Centre will display a series of posters detailing the accomplishments of black athletes from the 1960s to the present. “This is about reclaiming athletics in a positive way and showing how regular people can be role models through exceptional effort,” Sadlier said.
Margarett Best, Ontario minister of health promotion, praised the efforts of staff member Desmond Miller, who conceived the idea for the exhibit and carried out the research. Chintu, who came to U of T from Rhodesia on a scholarship, received his medical degree from the university in 1966. He competed for the U of T track team and was captain of the medical soccer team in 1964.
“They call him the father of pediatric medicine in Zambia and he’s still a professor in the school of medicine at the University of Zambia,” Miller said. “He’s one of the valued academics I found who were able to take their sporting careers and go beyond that to contribute to physical education and sport and health.”
In addition to Chintu, Miller selected Harry Jerome to represent the 1960s. Jerome is shown with fellow athlete Bruce Kidd in a photo from the British Empire Games in 1962. Profiles of athletes from subsequent decades will be unveiled each week, Miller said, and posted on the faculty website. “I’m so pleased to be able to celebrate the achievements of black athletes here at the University of Toronto, in Canada and across the world,” said Kidd, dean of the faculty. “We applaud what you’ve done in such a short time, putting together such a creative display.” -Jennifer Lanthier