Important note: Certain parts of this collection contain historical language and content that includes racist, stereotypical, or negative portrayals of Black individuals and groups. Content and historical language in this collection reflect perspectives during the time periods when they occurred. Original content and historical language remains intact to ensure that attitudes and perspectives about Black arrivants and citizens are not erased from the historical record in New Brunswick. Learning about historical perspectives supports the understanding of prejudice and inequities that shaped conditions in the past and continue today. Teachers must be mindful that for Black and other racialized students, experiences of prejudice are ongoing. Preparing the class to engage thoughtfully with the past must include consideration of how to address racist, stereotypical or otherwise offensive language in historical documents.

Student Tasks

Was the Emancipation Period one of significant, moderate or minimal progress for Black people in New Brunswick?

or

Did the Emancipation Period bring about significant improvements in the quality of life for Black people in New Brunswick?

or

Did the Emancipation Period bring about genuine freedom for Black people in New Brunswick?

• Does the archival evidence suggest that the Emancipation Period brought full and equal participation or segregation for Black people in New Brunswick?
• Did Black women share in the gains in women’s rights that were realized by other women during the Emancipation Period?
• Did the Emancipation Period lead to greater opportunities for Black children?
• Which three (3) artifacts best show progress and which three (3) artifacts show regress in Black people's journeys towards full and equal participation in New Brunswick society?
• What important contributions to New Brunswick society are suggested by the archival evidence?
• Using no more than 10 words and the most powerful images, how can you tell an accurate story about Black people's participation in New Brunswick society during the Emancipation Period?

Historical Context for Teachers

• In 1834 when general emancipation took place across the British Empire, working class racism was surprisingly at its highest. Emancipation was only accomplished by compensating slaveholders for their losses. It is believed that there were no enslaved peoples in New Brunswick at this time.
• In the 1840s Britain dropped its protectionist trade policies. This resulted in an economic decline in the North American colonies. Trade realignment with the U.S. resulted in the first wave of emigration to the U.S. This included Black people, who moved on to places like Bangor, Maine and further afield to Northern cities.
• Many Europeans immigrated to North America and New Brunswick beginning in the 1830s. In New Brunswick, Irish Catholic immigrants and Black people faced significant racism and discrimination.
• The Canadian-American Reciprocity Treaty of 1854 set in place a relationship between Canada and the United States in which raw materials would be shipped to manufacturing cities in the American Northeast, while cheap manufactured goods would flood Canadian markets. In New Brunswick, this put an end to many cottage industries and forced marginalized groups into industrial work. This sweeping economic change led to increased migration to New England factory towns.
• Black people migrated in both directions during this time period. Black people in Canada moved for economic opportunities in cities like Boston. New Brunswick became a destination for Black people seeking to avoid re-enslavement. Fugitive slaves were no longer safe in Northern states because of the Fugitive Slave Act that effectively coerced all Americans into informing on any potential runaways.
• After 1834, Black New Brunswickers established their own schools and churches. The African Baptist Church and African Methodist Churches were part of this system. Other Black New Brunswickers joined mainline churches, like those in the congregation of Saint Peters in Fredericton. - Black New Brunswickers were active participants in the American Civil War. Seven percent of the Black population joined either the United States Colored Troops, or the Union Navy. For example:

-Some, like George Albert, would die fighting for freedoms for his extended family.
-Artist and humanitarian Edward Bannister, a transplant from Saint Andrew’s, operated stations on the Underground Railroad and raised funds to support Black troops.

• During this time period Black New Brunswickers were able to achieve a level of financial independence through pursuits in music and sports. Some would become well-known during this and later times for their accomplishments. For example, Willie O’Ree, the first Black to enter the NHL, became internationally known for his athletic ability in hockey. There are numerous other Black New Brunswickers athletes who preceded Mr. O’Ree or followed him that are only now being recognized for their achievements.
• In the late nineteenth century Black New Brunswickers made important contributions to social progress. Many Black New Brunswick firsts occurred during this period, such as New Brunswick’s first Black lawyer A.B. Walker and first Black teacher Lalia Halfkenny.
• During the early part of the twentieth century, nativist sentiment increased in North America. In the United States, this included the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. In New Brunswick, these ideas were evident in the nativist sentiments expressed by the Orange Lodge and the emergence of Klaverns of the Klan. Like the United States, this sentiment peaked in the decade following the First World War.
• Black Canadians were generally not allowed to serve in the First World War, but a number did manage to enlist in combat. As the war dragged on and the number of available soldiers declined, governments enlisted Black Labour into Number Two Construction Battalion.
• The financial cycle of the early twentieth century further continued the migration of rural inhabitants of New Brunswick into urban centers in the northeastern United States or towards central Canada.
• Labour shortages during the Second World War provided Black New Brunswickers with economic opportunities.
• The proximity of New Brunswick to American military bases in Maine contributed to increased interaction between Black Americans and Black Canadians. This led to further out migration through marriage.
• After the war, there were new economic activities and opportunities for Black New Brunswickers. Institutions like the Technical College in Saint John provided Black graduates with new career opportunities, which helped many people move beyond subsistence living.
• The civil rights movement brought changes to the New Brunswick social fabric by challenging racialized views and constructs held by individuals, communities, and institutions.
• "Blacks in New Brunswick", written by Dr. William A. Spray during this time period, is considered the first inclusive history of the province to move beyond the continuum of racial tropes featured in previous historical accounts. Though this work is now considered dated, it is important for it marked a shift in white perceptions of Black society in New Brunswick.