As we observe Emancipation Month, we reflect on the significant impact of the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, a foundation for modern-day slavery, human trafficking, racism, and the inequalities that affect Indigenous, Black, and other marginalized communities globally. From the early 1600s to the 1800s, slavery was practiced in Canada. Although abolished in 1833, the end of slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade did not eradicate the negative attitudes, stereotypes, and beliefs about Black people. Similarly, the social, cultural, and economic inequalities inherited from the trans-Atlantic slave trade did not vanish.
These inequalities persist today. In Toronto, they manifest as anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination, visible in the individuals, events, and histories commemorated in public spaces, as well as in the disparities Black communities face in accessing services such as childcare, education, employment, housing, and healthcare.
Understanding and confronting the past allows us, as a city, to advance efforts to address anti-Black racism and all other forms of systemic discrimination. Commemorative initiatives such as Emancipation Month and the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent aim to confront the past to change the future, emphasizing the importance of understanding how historical actions impact our collective present. This is crucial as we work towards building an inclusive city for all.
How You Can Learn and Participate:
- Learn about the History of Slavery and Canada’s role in the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
- Understand the connections between slavery and all forms of systemic discrimination.
- Explore the legacies of Black communities in Toronto and Canada.
- Participate in Emancipation Month Events.
- Advance the human rights of Black people by confronting anti-Black racism.
Events & Activities:
Film Screening: Joseph
- Date: August 23, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
- Location: North York Central Library
On the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, attend a free screening of “Joseph,” a film about a Jamaican doctor searching for identity. Trained in Western medicine, the doctor must overcome family conflict and self-doubt to discover his African origins. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the film will start at 6 p.m. and runs approximately 90 minutes. Discussion, food, and entertainment will follow at 8:00 p.m. at the North York Auditorium (next door to the library).
Resources:
- Learn More About the History of Slavery in Canada
- Learn More About Confronting Anti-Black Racism
- Understand the Legacies of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade & Slavery
International Programs and Initiatives:
- Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade & Slavery (United Nations)
- Routes of Enslaved Peoples: Resistance, Liberty, and Heritage (UNESCO)
Multimedia:
- A podcast on slavery in Canada and the country’s first settlements of Black people (The Secret Life of Canada, Podchaser)
- Black Life Untold Stories: Canada was not a safe haven from slavery (CBC Docs, YouTube)
- Victims of Slavery & Transatlantic Slave Trade: Day of Remembrance (United Nations, YouTube)
- Slavery North Initiative – A YouTube channel focused on the study of Transatlantic Slavery in northern regions, with focused coverage on Canadian Slavery and slavery in the American North (Slavery North, YouTube)
For Educators:
- Lesson Resource Kit: Enslaved Africans in Upper Canada (Ontario Archives) – An educational resource for Grade 7 students on the topic of Slavery in British North America.
- Breaking the silence. The Transatlantic Slave Trade Education Project (UNESCO)
- Understanding Slavery Initiative – A free online educational resource to support those teaching and learning about Transatlantic Slavery (Understanding Slavery Initiative)
By learning about the legacies of slavery and participating in these commemorative events, we can honor the past and work towards a more inclusive future. Join us this Emancipation Month as we confront the past to change the future.
