“Black Excellence: A Heritage To Celebrate; A Future To Build.” A visit to Windsor, Ontario

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have always had a special connection with Windsor, Ontario, and the more I learn about this southwestern city, the connection grows.

Windsor, Ontario, holds significance in Canada’s Black history for several reasons, particularly due to its historical connection to the Underground Railroad and its role in the abolitionist movement.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in the United States intensified the efforts of the Underground Railroad, leading to an increased flow of freedom seekers into Canada. The city played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad, which was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by African American slaves to escape to freedom in the 19^th century. Windsor’s geographical location, adjacent to Detroit, made it a significant entry point into Canada for escaping slaves.

Many freedom seekers crossed the Detroit River to reach Windsor, where they found support from abolitionists and sympathetic residents. The city became a gateway to freedom for numerous African American individuals escaping slavery.

Windsor became home to prominent abolitionists, and anti-slavery activists who advocated for the end of slavery and supported those seeking freedom. Prominent figures such as Henry Bibb, who was a former slave and a leading abolitionist, settled in Windsor and contributed to the anti-slavery movement in Canada. The legendary abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who helped numerous slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad, spent time in the Windsor area. She is celebrated for her courageous efforts in the fight against slavery.

Then there is Buxton, located near Windsor, that became a settlement established by Rev. William King and other abolitionists. It was a refuge for African American individuals escaping slavery and transformed into a thriving community. The Buxton National Historic Site and Museum now commemorates the history of this settlement and its role in Canada’s African history.

The 2024 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build.” This theme represents both an opportunity to engage in open dialogue and a commitment to learning more about the stories African communities in Canada have to tell about their: histories, successes, sacrifices and triumphs.

To fully appreciate what makes Africans living in Canada so unique today, we need to immerse ourselves in our past. Step out of the present day and enter the past. A past which includes some of our ancestors’ place along the Underground Railroad.

This year, I invite you to indulge in a journey of discovery; Black History in Windsor Essex Pelee Island has curated: blogs, itineraries, and listings of Black owned businesses and artists. During Black History Month, you can take a trip down memory lane with their virtual events guide, so that you can further experience the rich history, accomplishments and the road that led to freedom for Canadians of African and Caribbean descent.

The Crossroads Historical Guide sheds light and provides an informative context to the settlements and advances that have played an integral role in shaping who we are. For Black History Month, the Crossroads Historical Guide will feature just-added stories highlighting the people, places and settlements that rose up from the journey of the Underground Railroad.

Register today for your free digital Crossroads digital pass below to explore the historical significance of Windsor Essex.

1. Register for your free pass.
2. Bring together past and present by visiting stops featured in the passport and discover the rich history of Windsor Essex.
3. Check in as you explore!

Still not sure; well, let me share with you some of the places to discover with the CROSSROADS digital pass:

Amherstburg Freedom Museum

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum welcomes people of all ages to experience the history of the Underground Railroad and the compassion and solidarity it took to make this network possible and bring freedom to many. Here you will be able to view exhibits and artifacts that share the stories of African Canadians, their journey to freedom and their contributions to society.

Sandwich First Baptist Church

As people were fleeing slavery in America, they would find themselves passing through the Sandwich First Baptist Church, the oldest Black church in Windsor’s historic Sandwich Towne, en route to finding freedom and their new home in Canada. The Church served as a haven for refugee slaves who were fleeing slavery mainly from the southern United States.

For hundreds of fugitive slaves who crossed the Detroit River into Windsor, Sandwich First Baptist Church was their first stop. A hole on either side of the floor in the Sanctuary still exists, which allowed those who were being sought after by bounty hunters to escape. The Church, which was built first as a log cabin in 1820 and was rebuilt by free and fugitive slaves in 1841.

Tower of Freedom

Situated between Goyeau St. and McDougall Ave Civic Esplanade in downtown Windsor, the Tower of Freedom Underground Railroad Monument is one half of the International Underground Railroad Memorial: the Detroit monument, located in Hart Plaza, depicts the Gateway to Freedom and features a bronze sculpture of six Underground Railroad travelers awaiting transport to Canada.

The story of the Underground Railroad did not end in Windsor Essex – the quest for freedom continued on to neighbouring Chatham-Kent. Here you will discover important Black historical sites which served along the path to freedom for American slaves seeking new life in Canada. Today, the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site, and the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society all serve as windows into the past and allow for the continued storytelling of Black History.

No matter where you live, I invite all Canadians to learn more about these communities, and how they continue to help shape Canadian history.