Did you know that Canada has a history of enslaving Black people?
Although our history gets shadowed by the atrocities committed in the United States, we still have our own history of enslaving Black people.
A 🧵 #BlackHistoryMonth #BLM
Although our history gets shadowed by the atrocities committed in the United States, we still have our own history of enslaving Black people.
A 🧵 #BlackHistoryMonth #BLM
In 1689, Slavery was officially passed as legislature in New France by King Louis XIV.
New France was the French Colony of Canada.
New France was the French Colony of Canada.
In the 1620s the first Black person to be sold into slavery was a 6 year old boy, Olivier Le Jeune from Madagascar.
At 9 years old he told a Jesuite Priest, "you say that by baptism I shall be like you: I am black and you are white, I must have my skin taken off to be like you."
At 9 years old he told a Jesuite Priest, "you say that by baptism I shall be like you: I am black and you are white, I must have my skin taken off to be like you."
Do you know what the Code Noir is?
Basically, it was a coloniser slave owner's bible. It dictated how to treat enslaved people, including methods of torture and punishment.
Basically, it was a coloniser slave owner's bible. It dictated how to treat enslaved people, including methods of torture and punishment.
Here's an excerpt from the book, which suggests what a colonising slave owner should do if an enslaved person were to escape.
In 1709, France passed the Raudot Ordinance, denouncing and defining enslaved persons as "property."
Needless to say, this guaranteed stripping any limited rights enslaved people may have had under colonising slave owners.
Needless to say, this guaranteed stripping any limited rights enslaved people may have had under colonising slave owners.
Between the first known recorded case of slavery of Black persons to the abolition of slavery – 4,000 people of African origin and descent were enslaved in Canada.
Check out this grotesque ad looking to purchase enslaved persons. Published by the Montreal Gazette.
Check out this grotesque ad looking to purchase enslaved persons. Published by the Montreal Gazette.
Many enslaved Black people entered Canada as enslaved people. American Loyalist slave owners brought enslaved people up North with them during the American Civil War.
Yet, the Black resistance struggle was active. Do you know the story of Marie-Joseph Angelique?
She's an iconic symbol of the struggle against slavery, who took down half of Montreal to make her point. ✊🏾
She's an iconic symbol of the struggle against slavery, who took down half of Montreal to make her point. ✊🏾
Although slavery ended in 1834, anti-black racism continues.
#BHM not only highlights historical Black resistance and struggles – it also highlights Black triumph, celebrates Black joy, and focuses on work we still have to do to create a society that is safe for Black people.
#BHM not only highlights historical Black resistance and struggles – it also highlights Black triumph, celebrates Black joy, and focuses on work we still have to do to create a society that is safe for Black people.
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