Amherstburg: A Haven of Freedom and Struggle II
Figure 1. A shot of the Detroit River. Photo by Blessing Ogunyemi, taken at Windsor, Ontario, October 2024.
Although Amherstburg was a great space for freedom seekers in terms of the safety and work opportunities it offered, beyond the generally wide prejudice that white people expressed about the presence of Black people in Southwestern Ontario, which manifested through calls for separate schools and the Common Schools Act, Historian Fred Landon documented mixed attitudes toward freedom seekers, revealing the tensions and hostilities that shaped Black life in Amherstburg.
Today, Amherstburg’s Black history is a testament to triumph and a reflection of loss. It offers a fascinating reflection of the evolution seen in other Black settlements, particularly in the current state of its Black population. While the history of Blackness is evident through its stories and monuments, it is no coincidence that the legacy of the Black population in Amherstburg feels less vibrant and present than in other communities.
Prof. Lorne Foster, York Research Chair in Black Canadian Studies & Human Rights, speaks on the ideals and reality of Canada, equity, a sense of belonging, and freedom.