“Throughout my life I have believed thoroughly in the power of education, and that belief is the grand gift of my mother, Mae Rose, gave me. The title of this book, the quote “Go to school, you’re a little black boy,” is hers, and I have used it to honour her insight and wisdom. Those words, her words, have been a the core of what I have accomplished in this life. She was a mere maid, but her knowledge and foresight transcended her station in life; she knew that accepting defeat was easy, but success was possible, and education was the vehicle to take you there. She was right, and it has.” – The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander
 

Lincoln Alexander, the popular former lieutenant governor of Ontario, has died at age 90.
 
Alexander, Canada’s first black MP and cabinet minister, was lieutenant governor from 1985 to 1991.
 
Alexander was well liked by people of all walks of life and loved to joke about a highway in Hamilton being named after him even though he never held a driver’s licence.
 
He was MP for the riding for Hamilton West from 1968 to 1980.
 

 
“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of the Hon. Lincoln Alexander, 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario,” current Lieutenant Governor David Onley tweeted Friday.
 
“A great Canadian, a great man. In the name of Her Majesty and the people of Ontario, our condolences to his wife Marni and his family,” Onley said.
 

By Richard J. Brennan

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