Lezlie Harper, who runs local tours about Black History in Canada, says that while most folks know that enslaved people came to Canada via the Underground Railroad, they don’t know what happened to them after they arrived.
Harper – whose enslaved ancestors from Kentucky settled in Fort Erie in 1851 – answered that question and more during her talk at NC on Feb. 7 as part of a series of College activities in honour of Black History Month.
Opening her talk with a prayer, Harper acknowledged the faith which guided her ancestors through turbulent times, and which she continues to lean on today.
“A lot of people talk about resilience today. I talk about faith. People don’t want to talk faith because that’s religion … But that’s how these people survived.”
Her ancestors worked difficult and dangerous jobs in Canada, including her great uncle Roy who worked on the railroad.
“They got the crummiest jobs … but they turned their scars into stars.”
She described the journey taken by enslaved people to Canada via the Underground railroad – more specifically, to the crossing point in Fort Erie, Ontario along Niagara Boulevard.
Harper described the “courage and fortitude” of enslaved people to cross the river and follow the north star to escape slavery.
“…what if it was a cloudy night?… What if it [the creek] dried up?”
“People were coming into Canada for many, many years, even prior to the American Revolution, people were coming into Canada from the US to escape slavery,” said Harper. “And it was where Black people would first feel freedom.”
But things weren’t perfect when they came here. Racism, discrimination and segregation were still very real experiences in Canada in the days of horse and buggy.
Harper talked about her own upbringing as the “only black kid” in her school, an experience which included name-calling and being excluded. Through these experiences, she found the source of her own resilience and learned the origins of racism.
“One of the things that we learned to do as a black Canadian in particular is we know that racism comes out of fear…. I had to keep moving forward. If someone wanted to be racist towards me, that’s their problem… That’s their hate. That’s their dark soul. It’s not mine.”
Deeply connected to not only the history of her family, but the stories of other families who settled in Niagara, Harper beamed with pride about the legacy of strength of her ancestors.
“I’ve even said sometimes I’m proud to have been an enslaved individual because it showed such character and strength the character. What people did to us, that’s their issue, but what we were able to rise above is what I concentrate on.”
For upcoming events at NC and in the community for Black History Month, see our previous story.
