Emancipation Month

Artist: Phillip Saunders

What is Emancipation Month/Day?

Canadians are not always aware that Black People were once enslaved on the land that is now Canada. Those who fought enslavement were pivotal in shaping our society to be as diverse as it is today. 

Emancipation Month recognizes the struggle for human rights and the rich contributions made by Peoples of African descent. Recognizing Emancipation Month in August acknowledges a horrible period in our history and our ongoing commitment to eliminate discrimination in all forms. 

On March 24^th, 2021, members of Canadian parliament unanimously voted to designate August 1^st as Emancipation Day in Canada.  Emancipation Day marks the day the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect throughout the British Empire in 1834. Thus, marking an end of more than 250 years of chattel slavery of millions of African people and their descendants in Canada and around the world.

Why Recognize Emancipation Month/Day?

·       Emancipation Day is an opportunity to learn more about the history of African people and communities, and to continue to address and eradicate systemic anti-Black racism.

·       The month will also allow us, as a community, to reflect and acknowledge our shared history of the enslavement of people of African descent in Canada.

·       Celebrating Emancipation Day will also provide us with an opportunity to maintain ongoing meaningful dialogue around race relations and inclusive communities.

·       Most importantly, the day encourages us to educate ourselves and take action.

Learn more about Emancipation 

Government of Canada:  https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/emancipation-day.html

Bruce County Public Library: has books for adults and children. They cover topics related to emancipation, slavery in Canada, and the Underground Railroad. The list is on the BCPL catalogue: Emancipation in Canada | Bruce County Public Library

Emancipation Festival: Emancipation Reads — Emancipation Festival

Events

Municipality of Kincardine Flag Raising

To launch Emancipation Month, the Municipality is hosting a flag-raising ceremony of the Black Liberation flag on August 1^st, 2024 at the following two locations:

Bruce County Public Library, 12:30 p.m.
Davidson Centre, 1:30 p.m.

The public are invited to join Council members and staff to show the ongoing commitment to eliminate anti Black racism and discrimination of all forms. The flag is a reminder that despite the progress made, there is still a long road to equity.

About the Black Liberation Flag

The Black Liberation Flag is a tri-color flag consisting of three equal horizontal bands of (from top down) red, black and green.

The flag was designed by Marcus Garvey in 1920 in response to racism and has become a powerful symbol worldwide, representing people of the African Diaspora, Black Freedom, and Black Unity.

The red, black, and green of the flag each have a specific meaning.

• Red: the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry and shed for liberation.
• Black: black people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the flag.
• Green: the abundant natural wealth of Africa.

The flag is a reminder that despite the progress made, there is still a long road to equity.

Source: https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/pan-african-flag-meaning/

Owen Sound Emancipation Festival: www.emancipation.ca

The Emancipation Festival located in Grey Bruce and Simcoe Counties has the distinction of being the longest continuously running Emancipation Picnic/Festival in North America. The Emancipation Festival board of directors works in tandem with numerous community and cultural organizations to recognize Underground Railroad destination points (Owen Sound being the most northerly terminus of the Underground Railroad) and individuals descendent from the slaves who traveled its path.

About Phillip Saunders

Phillip Saunders is a multidisciplinary artist and arts educator based in Toronto, Ontario. His practice includes oil painting, charcoal drawing, mural making, and digital illustrations. Phillip explores two worlds in his art practice, his oil paintings contrast sharply against his mural works; his oil practice takes on a traditional realist approach reminiscent of the old masters, where his mural work takes on a contemporary pop art feel.

As pertaining to Phillip’s mural art, he explores the interplay of how colours couple with feeling in his colourful portraits. His distinctive use of colour and abstract patterns portray a unique perspective of human emotion through color theory, with the goal of invoking joy, reflection and happiness in the viewer.

www.phillipasaunders.com

Emancipation Day Handout