A Day in the Night of Jonathan Mole

What if white people were visible minorities - victims of workplace racism? That's how it is in the world of Jaded, a sharp and funny mockumentary that will get you talking about racism and discrimination. Jade Stone can't get a break. She's got qualifications and drive, but despite her MBA, she's working twice as hard to get half as far. Racism is never funny, of course. But through clever role reversals, this tongue-in-cheek comedy allows us to laugh while confronting the realities of overt and systemic racism. This film is part of the Work For All series, produced by the National Film Board of Canada, with the participation of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

A nostalgic ride through history, The Road Taken documents the experiences of Blacks who worked as sleeping-car porters on Canada's major railways from the early 1900s through the 1960s. There was a strong sense of pride among the porters--they were well-respected by their community, and they had steady work and were able to provide for their families. Yet, harsh working conditions were a bitter reality and there were no opportunities for promotion to other railway jobs. Finally, in 1955, porter Lee Williams charged the railway companies and the porter's union with discrimination under the Canada Fair Employment Act, and Blacks were able to work in other areas. Interviews, archival photos, and memorable film footage of train travel combine with the music of noted Toronto jazz musician Joe Sealy, whose father was a porter, to reconstruct a fascinating history that might otherwise have been forgotten.

In this film about a factory seamstress, there is the substitution of glamor for genuine job satisfaction and advancement. The film was made in 1955.