Firstly though, a brief history. In 1604, the first known African to reach the shores of Canada came as an interpreter between Champlain and the Micmacs. Then, the next mention of an African in Canada is in 1628 when a young boy from Madagascar becomes the first slave in New France, yet it is not until 1709 that slavery becomes legal in Canada.
Many African Canadians came from the United States. Many of them came as United Empire Loyalists after the American War of Independence. Most of them go to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. Although promised land by the British, they only get the worst land, if any. That led to many of them migrating to Sierra Leone. The road against slavery began earlier in Canada than in other British territories or in the States. The first legislation against slavery was passed in 1793, which forbade slaves from being brought into Upper Canada and made slaves that were 25 years or older free men/women.
During the War of 1812, African Canadians fought with whites and Mohawks at the battle of Queenston Heights against the States. In 1834, Slavery comes to an end. August 1st is called Emancipation Day.
During the early 1800s, Canada becomes known as a haven to Africans escaping slavery. Over 30,000 blacks migrate to Canada. The passing of the Fugitive Slaves Act, which threaten all African Americans, leads to more migration to Canada. Harriet Tubman makes about 20 trips to the US to help slaves reach Canada in the 1850s. This is known as the Underground Railroad. Yet there is still segregation in Canada.
African Canadians served their country during both world wars despite attempts to keep them out of the army.
In 1954, segregation ends in Nova Scotia, where most African Canadians live and more laws are passed against discrimination in 1960. The '60s bring many immigrants from the Caribbean Islands. Segregation is illegal in Ontario in 1964.
Harriet Tubman Araminta Ross (changed her named to Harriet after her mother) was born in Maryland, USA in 1820. She was born a slave as her parents were slaves on the Broda plantation in Maryland. She was considered a defiant slave but a hard worker. She once got hit over the head with a lead weight after helping a runaway slave, which put her in a coma. She married a free black man named John Tubman in 1844. When she was scheduled to be sold in 1849, she planned to escape. She settled in Philadelphia until the Fugitive Slave Act and settled in Saint Catherines. She made many trips down south and became the most known conductor of the Underground Railroad, which "never lost a passanger". During the civil war she returned to the United States where she worked as a scout and nurse. After the civil war she stayed in Auburn, New York. She died in 1913.
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