Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA) hosted a flag-raising and drumming circle today to mark Emancipation Day.
NACCA chairperson and founder Jerisha Grant-Hall provides the background for the event:
"Following the extraordinary efforts of Rosemary Sadlier, in 2021 the House of Commons officially designated Aug. 1 as Emancipation Day across Canada. Aug. 1, 1834 marks the day that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire emancipating more than 800,000 enslaved Africans in British-controlled regions across the globe, including Canada.
"Here in Newmarket, we acknowledge the legacy and history of slavery in Canada. We do so while celebrating the rich contributions that people of African descent have made to our community and country. Despite the abolition of slavery nearly 200 years ago, we recognize that legacies born out slavery are still prevalent today. Anti-Black racism is entrenched in our institutions, policies, and practices.
"The flag-raising highlights the continued and sustained work that must be done to create a more equitable and inclusive society to undo centuries of anti-Black practices and policies that exist at various levels of our society. It serves as a reminder of this nation's troubling past and an opportunity to recommit to the creation of a better future."
