Toward Transformative Change: an Implementation Plan for Canada’s Black Justice Strategy
Government of Canada
February 2025
The Government of Canada would like to thank Robert Small who created the artwork for the Implementation Plan.
Biography: Robert Small
Renowned artist Robert Small, CM, is an Order of Canada recipient. He is the only African Canadian visual artist ever to be inducted into the Order and the youngest African-Canadian. For thirty years, Small has created the annual and historic LEGACY poster featuring captivating portraits of the African-Canadian and African experience/history. Small is a storyteller, a historian, and an impact player. He has inspired generations of African-Canadian artists to pursue art as a career and informed all Canadians about the contributions of African people to society through his art. Small has consistently been the most known and celebrated African Canadian artist of the past three decades.
For more of Small’s work go to his website: www.thelegacyposter.com.
Artistic approach
Before beginning a piece of art, I thoroughly research the theme I want to explore. For years, my work has captured the African diasporic experience, focusing on positive narratives that inspire hope, celebrate triumphs, and uplift our history.
My art challenges traditional depictions of African history, shifting the focus from struggle to empowerment. Rather than viewing our past as something to mourn, I illustrate it as a source of inspiration. I portray Black individuals as diverse, powerful, and complex, rejecting one-dimensional portrayals. My art is not merely a means to an end—it stands on its own, carrying historical significance with every piece. More than anything, my work reflects my evolving mindset, emotions, and perspectives throughout my career.
With heritage from Barbados, being born in Canada, and shaped by the African Canadian experience, I draw from a deep well of cultural influences. My art is a fusion of personal experiences, political insights, and artistic evolution, translating my vision into a lasting visual narrative.
Description: “The Road Justice Walked on”
Walking the path of justice is a journey that demands wisdom, resilience, and unity. In this piece of artwork I created, the man and woman walk together, embodying the strength of past and present generations, while the boy strides ahead, symbolizing the future shaped by their guidance. The Sankofa bird on the shirt—a powerful Adinkra symbol meaning ‘return and get it’—reminds us that progress is rooted in understanding our history. It signifies the importance of learning from the past to build a just and equitable future. Their steps forward reflect an intergenerational commitment to justice, where knowledge, experience, and hope walk together as one.
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