Throughout its history, Canada had become home to a significant number of minority groups, and one of the largest of them definitely is a group of Blacks. Black Canadians, how they call themselves, came to Canada from different countries; thus, the name of their group is inclusive and wide. Nowadays, African Americans constitute a large part of Black Canadians; however, very few of their predecessors were brought right from Africa. This paper is dedicated to analysis of the origin and role of African Americans in Canada, and contributions they made to Canadian society.
The history of Black Canadians is closely connected with the history of African Americans in the United States. In fact, a significant part of them moved to Canada from the U.S. Spaniards brought first Africans to serve as slaves in their colonies at the beginning of the sixteenth century. During the time of slavery, slave economy in Canada and the United States differed. Canadian climate was too cold for production of crops, so Blacks primarily served as the merchants, armed forces, or in the religious orders. According to Fabbi, by the time of slavery abolishment, more than ten millions Africans lived in the New World (Fabbi 2).
The first massive immigration of African Americans to Canada started in the days of the American Revolution. The United Empire Loyalists, Americans, who were not agree with the Thirteen Colonies in their battle for freedom, moved to Canada and brought with them about 2,000 Black slaves (Fabbi 2). Canadian government, “fearful that the independence movement would spread north,” asked Blacks to leave their owners and fight for the English, and promised them freedom and lands (Fabbi 2). Those lands, however, had very bad quality, and later some of Blacks were forced to work on Whites, while others decided to return back to Africa in all. The next massive immigration of African Americans happened in the days of the War of 1812. According to Fabbi, “over 2,000 Black refugees came to Canada in the early 1800s” (Fabbi 3). Canadian government, in order to win the war, once again promised Blacks freedom and lands, and once again did not completely fulfilled its promise. And the largest migration of Blacks to Canada happened in 1830s, after Canada abolished slavery and together with the invention of the Underground Railway. In those days, Black slaves developed a secret network and escaped from the U.S. in order to get freedom.
According to Milan and Tran, at the beginning of the twentieth century around 17,000 Blacks lived in Canada (Milan 1). Until the 1960s, that number grew slowly, but after the reforms in immigration policy immigrants from the source countries, like the Caribbean and Africa, became more diversified, and by 1991, the amount of Blacks in Canada rose beyond half a million (Milan 3). Nowadays, Blacks live together with White Canadians, and most of them have the same education and jobs. Throughout history, they have significantly contributed to Canadian culture. Such African Canadians as, for example, Donald Oliver and Rosemary Brown, could hold senior positions in government opening ways to their congeners and representatives of other minorities (“Black History in Canada – Noteworthy Personalities”). African Americans also became famous writers, directors, singers, etc. They made contributions into sport achievements founding the Colored Hockey League and achieving success in baseball and NHL. As a part of native Blacks’ culture, every year in Toronto African and Caribbean descendants hold a festival named Caribana, which “roots go back . . . to the African drumbeat at the origins of much Caribbean music” (“Strengthening Caribana's roots”). Black Canadians pioneered such genres of Canadian music as Canadian jazz, Canadian blues, classical music, etc. Despite the fact that many researchers think the contribution of Blacks is their attempt to mark their own culture, Black themselves reject this idea (Walcott 131-135).
Most part of African Americans came to Canada during such significant historical events as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and abolishment of slavery that took place in Canada earlier than in the United States. Despite the fact they faced there a number of difficulties, Blacks could help Canada to win a number of armed conflicts and made significant contributions in Canadian culture helping to develop it in various ways. They also had representatives who held high public offices and asserted rights of Canadian visual minor groups. Nowadays, African Americans, who are part of Black Canadians, have the same rights and social standing as White Canadians do.
Rashaun, 42:
I got to Canada in 1765, together with my master, who was the United Empire Loyalist. Canadian government promised freedom and lands those of us who would be ready to leave their masters and fought for England, and my friend and I decided to try. We escaped and took part in the armed conflicts, where my friend, like many other our fellows, was killed. Now, after the end of the Revolution, I got a little land with frozen ground, where nothing could grow, and I am forced to serve as a merchant for one of the Whites rich men. I got freedom, but do not feel like anything changed.
Lamar, 33:
Like many others of my fellows, my family and I escaped to Canada in 1812 and went into military service. Our former master was a tyrant; I fought in the War in order to get freedom and land, and to protect my family. After the War, we got a small ground that it was very hard to dress; however, I saw that my friends were less lucky and got land where nothing could grew at all. Now, I work as a woodworker; my chief is rather strict, but pays me enough money, and I can provide for my family. I think we move to the bright future.
Lakeisha, 20:
My older brother and I could escape to Canada in 1834, after the abolishment of slavery there. We used the Underground Railway and several times were almost caught; however, luck was on our side, and we won our freedom. In Canada, we had nothing; no place to live, no work, no family. We got in with one of the Black families who had got there before us. Those were kind people, and they sheltered us till my brother could get a job. Here, Whites are not aggressively disposed towards us, but at the same time they do not like and respect us. However, we are less or more free here. Life became a bit easier.
Latonya, 35:
I moved to Canada in 1955 together with my family in order to find a better life. There were not many immigrants here those times, and we were under closer attention from Whites receiving both negative and positive attitudes. However, during the 1960s, everything changed, and a lot of African Americans came here. We became a part of Canadian society; it was strange, but we could get used to it. That was great.
Tyreek, 50:
I immigrated to Canada in 1990 in order to enter the university and to get a good education and a job. There were a lot of Black immigrants here those times, as well as now. I entered the University, and immediately made a White friend, Jack, who was my group mate and a good guy at all. Both of us are 50 now, but we are still like brothers, and so do our sons. Of course, for 25 years in Canada, I had met aggressive attitude towards my race, but that’s not actually a big deal. I have a good job and live in a good country; I have family and friends who don’t judge me on my skin color. I feel for my young brothers who experience racism, but in Canada it is not that thing you can face often. I love my life and I am very happy that decided to move here.
Works Cited
Barmak, S. “Strengthening Caribana's roots.” The Star. The Star, 2 Aug 2008. Web. Accessed 29 Feb 2016.
“Black History in Canada – Noteworthy Personalities.” Black History Canada. Black History Canada, n.d. Web. Accessed 29 Feb 2016.
Desroches, M., and Lefebvre, M.T. “African Music in Canada.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 22 Mar 2009, ed. 30 Jan 2014. Web. Accessed 29 Feb 2016.
Fabbi, N., and Jackson, H.M. “Early Black Canadian History.” K-12 Study Canada. K-12 Study Canada, 2003. PDF. Accessed 29 Feb 2016.
Milan, A., and Tran, K. “Blacks in Canada: A Long History.” Canadian Social Trends 11-008 (Spring 2004): 2-7. PDF.
Walcott, R. Black Like Who?: Writing Black Canada. Toronto: Insomniac Press, 2003. Print.
