Storytelling From St. James Town: Murphy Browne on Black History and Local Media

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St. James Town is one of Toronto’s most densely populated neighbourhoods, shaped by migration, resilience, and decades of grassroots organizing. It is also home to Murphy Browne, an educator, broadcaster, and community advocate whose voice has helped document stories often missing from mainstream narratives. RPTV sat down with Browne at the Wellesley Community Centre for a wide-ranging conversation about her work, her journey, and the role of community media in preserving Black history and lived experience. For years, Browne has used storytelling as a civic tool—connecting past and present through radio, music, and local journalism. As the host of Word of Mouth on Radio Regent, Browne curates conversations that blend history, culture, and social commentary. Her approach centres voices that are frequently overlooked, using music and storytelling to create space for reflection, education, and dialogue. She has also brought this perspective to television as a co-host of Regent Park TV’s weekly news show, helping ground local reporting in community knowledge and context. Murphy’s media work is informed by a longer history of public advocacy. Archival records show her speaking out on issues of policing and justice decades ago, underscoring how today’s conversations build on work carried forward by community voices over time. In this interview, Browne reflects on why neighbourhood-based media remains essential—not only to inform, but to preserve memory, encourage participation, and strengthen civic life in places like St. James Town and Regent Park.  

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