Chapter Ten

The Legacy of Emancipation Day: Lessons from Emancipation Day

Oh, bread for the body there’s got to be,
But a soul will die without liberty.
Pray for the day when the struggle is past,
Freedom for all! Free at last!
Freedom for all! Free at last!

— “No Easy Walk to Freedom,”
Peter, Paul, and Mary, No Easy Walk to Freedom, 1986.

What can be learned by looking at the 177-year history of Emancipation Day? Why is it important to us today? What do contemporary African Canadians have to say about Emancipation Day’s legacy?

Emancipation Day commemorations were an interweaving of faith, thanksgiving, education, family, remembrance, protest, and community. Understanding this freedom festival provides insight into the early human rights movement in Canada and how African Canadians celebrated freedom since the end of slavery. It helps define the long-standing Black community in Canada, which is one of the four earliest groups that contributed to the building of the nation. We gain knowledge of the resilience, resistance, and determination put forward by African Canadians to break the shackles of slavery and to obtain equality as Canadian citizens. We get to learn about the dynamic composition of early Black communities and the diversity of early Black settlers. Through exploring August First celebrations, the tremendous contributions and sacrifices of African Canadians is uncovered.

Emancipation Day is an important site of memory, a place where people create reminders of the past. Remembrance is considered to be a form of resistance for people of African descent. By memorializing the experiences and courage of ancestors, through stories, songs, and other ceremonies, the silence of the past is broken. Countless stories are shared, heard, and passed on. Their memory lives on without end. Drawing on these memories provides strength to overcome present obstacles and offers inspiration to plot a course for the future. For young African Canadians, remembering their ancestors contributes to a sense of self and belonging, which is very empowering. It ensures that youth are aware of history and the important part they must play in fighting for social responsibility and equality. Further, we learn about the importance of education in breaking down barriers and building up the Black community. Blaine Courtney, current chair of the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival Committee and a descendant of early Black settlers, remarked:

The one thing that has been obvious to me is the need to preserve and to share the stories and artifacts from out past. The better we perform this task the easier it will be for our youth to stay in touch with their roots. We also owe it to our entire community, White and Black, to ensure that as little as possible is lost and every chance to educate everyone about our history is taken.[1]

The first of August had a very powerful, unifying effect. It brought Blacks together in solidarity and joined Blacks and Whites to challenge injustice, mistreatment, and prejudice. The event also fostered community building among African Canadians, who were sometimes separated by the vast land and space of Ontario and the country. It united people of African ancestry and like-minded rights activists across the North American continent in establishing important networks with others who understood the strength in numbers.

Examining the history of Emancipation Day provides insight into the social transformation of African-Canadian culture, Canadian society, and the evolution of Emancipation Day itself. The improved social conditions for Black Canadians, especially compared to when they first arrived, shows the power of continuous protest. Some noticeable changes are integrated public schools, less discriminatory hiring practices, and the acknowledgement of the equal rights of people from different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. The enactment of provincial and federal laws to enforce rights, including the Fair Employment Practices Act of 1951, the Fair Accommodations Practices Act of 1954, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms of 1982, demonstrate progress. Because of these pieces of legislation, students can attend the school closest to them, regardless of their race. It is illegal for someone to be denied a job or a promotion or to receive less pay for equal work because of their race, gender, or place of origin. Businesses are breaking the law if they refuse to provide service to a person based on their race, religion, or gender. Fundamental human rights and freedoms are protected. As Canadians we can live and work anywhere in Canada, practise the religion of our choice, freely express our opinions, and vote for whomever we choose.

Emancipation Day has developed into a time-honoured Canadian tradition, celebrated in grand style. From the onset, Emancipation Day was a mix of pleasure and protest. Thousands of people have witnessed and taken part in the evolution of the commemoration. In 1967 the celebration’s roots influenced Caribana, another popular African-Canadian tradition. One consistent characteristic is August First’s reflection of a vision and hope of a better Canada. Dennis Scott of Burlington, Ontario, a descendant of early Black settlers, says, “Personally, the most exhilarating aspect of this transition in Emancipation Day celebrations was in the education of participants in local and Canadian Black history and culture.”[2]

Freedom had to be fought for by slaves, abolitionists, Black soldiers, and civil rights activists so that African Canadians could exercise their full rights. The action plans were set, and the victories that followed were celebrated on Emancipation Day.