February is Black Heritage Month
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| Picture from Graphics Fairy |
The Village of Sydenham, now known as Owen Sound was the
last stop on the Underground Railroad. Families having reach the end of their
journey in Grey County worked hard to established themselves as free citizens in their new country, Canada.
Why did they travel the extra 286 kms/178 miles from the American Canadian boarder? The American
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 set a bounty for the return of escaped slaves and
bounty hunters heedless of Canadian law crossed into Canada scourging boarder communities for escaped slaves. Traveling further north was the
only way to ensure personal safety and the hope of a better life.
The route that these enslaved people followed was
contained in songs, and symbols. Clear
markers for those who knew what to look for.
'Follow the Drinking Gourd' was the road map many southern slaves
followed. It brought them to Grey County
and freedom. Please take the time and
listen to the You Tube Video it contains both the song and story of the road
map.
Owen Sound was not the only community in Grey County that
held African Canadian communities.
“Priceville, Nenagh and Ceylon in the south… Negro Creek, and Holland
Centre in the middle” (Grey Roots Museum & Archives, 2014) were also established communities.
I would like to say that the African Canadian's who
found freedom in Grey County were respected and treated as equals - however
this is not the truth. To survive the
Black communities "kept a low profile" lived as to be forgotten by
their white neighbours. I invite you to
the listen the 45 minute National Film Board Video "Speakers for the
Dead" this video describes how they lived and are treated in death.
For the past 151 years people have gather in Owen Sound for
the Emancipation Festival which celebrated “the British Commonwealth
Emancipation Act of August 1, 1834 and the United States Emancipation
Proclamation of January 1, 1863” (City of Owen Sound, 2014) This year the Emancipation Festival is being
held August 01, 2014 to August 02, 2014.
If you ever get to Owen Sound Ontario CA you can walk the
Freedom Trail and see the contributions African Canada settlers had
on this beautiful community.
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| Click Here for Freedom Trail Map |
We
are only at risk of repeating history when we stop learning from it.
As parents and grandparents spend some time
with your children and talk about Black Heritage.
Grandma Snyder
City of
Owen Sound. (2014). Owen Sound's Black History. Retrieved from Owen
Sound where you want to live:
https://www.owensound.ca/live/owen-sounds-black-history
Grey Roots Museum &
Archives. (2014). Black History in Grey County. Retrieved from Grey
Roots Museum & Archives:
http://www.greyroots.com/exhibitions/virtual-exhibits/black-history/
©2013-2015 twosnydergirls
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