Thread by @nicoledawnj

DYK? #NovaScotia is home to the oldest Black community in Canada.

Since you weren’t compelled to learn my history in school, here’s a (very summarized) rundown 👇🏽

#BlackHistoryMonth

The first record of Blacks in Canada, dates back to the early 1600s with the arrival of translator Mathieu da Costa. He first landed at Port Royal, NS.

That’s right, We Been Here - Over 400 Years!

As the American Revolution ended in the late 1700s, thousands of the remaining Black Loyalists (those who fought for Britain) in New York began migrating up to NS.

Over half settled in Birchtown + it became the largest settlement of free Blacks in the world outside of Africa.

You can read more about this migration in the Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill -- the mini series was also amazing 👌🏽

Novel: amazon.ca/Book-Negroes-N…
Mini Series: CBC Gem

Next up were the refugees after the War of 1812, the Jamaican Maroons (1976-1800), and an influx of folks from other areas of the Caribbean (1920)

Oh and—yes, slavery, segregation, racism and discrimination exist(ed) in Canada too.

Historical records show that slavery in Canada was made legal in Quebec, by the French, through a royal mandate issued by Louis XIV in 1689.

The first documented slave actually arrived a lot sooner, in 1628. Recorded as Oliver LeJeune, he was a 6 year old boy...

Wasn’t until 1834 when slaves in Canada were legally emancipated - this over a year after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln in the US.

You can find more of the above information + much more at the Black Cultural Centre: bccnsweb.com/web/