Saturday, February 23

A Bit of Canadian Black History and a Meme

Since Black History Month will soon be coming to a close, I want to share some more tidbits with my readers.
When the British Imperial Act 1833 was passed in Britain, the enslavements of Africans within the British Empire was outlawed. This included Canada. The law went into effect on August 1, 1834 and was the first North American human rights legislation.

At that time the freedom movement started in earnest. Abolishionists of all races, as well as free and enslaved Africans established the freedom movement known as the Underground Railroad. It wasn't long until it became widely known that freedom awaited those who could reach Canada. Excursions were planned with a minimum of information being exchanged between owners of safe houses along the Underground Railroad line.

Escaped slaves did come to Canada in large numbers at that time. They settled in cities such as Collingwood, St. Catharines, Toronto and Windsor. Many also settled in rural and urban areas of Upper Canada, which is now known as Ontario.

Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by author Harriet Beecher Stowe and was the 19th century's best-selling novel. It helped educate the general public about the plight of slavery and caused more public awareness.

The Uncle Tom character that Stowe based her book on was inspired by Reverand Joshua Henson, who lived in slavery for 41 years. He and his family took advantage of the Underground Railroad and entered Canada by crossing into Upper Canada by way of the Niagara River. Joshua Henson worked as a farmer and then helped to establish a black settlement near Colchester. It is known today as The Dawn Settlement. If you would like to learn more about the Underground Railroad in Ontario, be sure to visit Ontario's Fun Connection.

Photo Courtesy of the Archives of Ontario
100278767
Michelle is resting comfortably at home and is doing fine. I'm not sure she's moving around enough, so am going to have to get after her. She has to go and get her staples out on Monday and Brandon will be back in school. I believe my niece, Melissa, is bringing Griffyn and coming to stay for a couple of days. If not, I will be checking in on Michelle frequently. If they do come, I'm am going to take some photos. Griffyn is getting to be a big boy and I don't get to see him very often.



Jo at Bits and Pieces has tagged me for the six word meme that was inspired by Hemingway's $10 bet that he could sum up his life in six words: For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere

4. Tag five more blogs with links

5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Well, I thought about this for a long time and came up with several. However, I decided on this one:

Born a sinner, saved by Grace.

Now I'd like to tag anyone who would like to play. If you do decide to participate, please leave a comment so I can visit and read the six words that you've come up with.
When I took Meeko for his walk this morning, I was gifted with nature's music through the song of a beautiful male cardinal. Have a wonderful weekend, my dear friends and readers and be sure to enjoy the beautiful creatures of God's Earth. ~Blessings, Mary~

31 comments:

  1. Lovely blog and thanks for playing, great memoir:)

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  2. I LOVE YOUR
    post
    and how your sum up your life!
    tis true for all of us


    I love you
    deena

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  3. I am still praying for michelle. Thanks for the great history lesson, enjoyed it. I love your meme answer, wonderful. I love you my friend.

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  4. As usual you have written a fantanstic post.
    We alle need some Grace in our lives.I know I really do,Oh yeh I already have a lot of it.By the Grace of God I turned 56,on 3/01/08 I'll be married to my Celestine for 28 years,and have been sober since12/17/1990.
    {{HUGS and BLESSINGS your way}}

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  5. I'm thankful Michelle is home and doing well.

    Your six word meme was a good one.

    I tagged you for a short meme. Hope you can play along.

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  6. Good Afternoon Mary,
    Sorry for late in visiting, but I've had a tough time today. I've been in bed most of the day and have only been up for a little bit and thought I would do a litle visiting. I'm glad that Michelle is doing better and like you, she needs to get up and move around a bit more. I'm sure she will tho. It all just takes time. I'm still keeping her in my prayers. I do hope your niece and nephew gets to come for a visit and I am looking forward to seeing pictures of Grayson. They do grow fast. Again, I enjoyed the posting of your Black History there in Canada. I think I will try to get one or two in next week for the Black History here in the United States. I enjoyed reading your Meme. So true and AMEN!!!! We got a bit of Snow here last night. I was laying in bed watching our local News and when the weather segment came on, the radar was showing a small patch of Snow here in our area. I got up and came in the front room and looked out the front door, and sure enough, it was coming down. It was a wet Snow, but it was Snowing. There was just a bit on the top of my truck, but it was too dark for me to take a picture of it with my Cell Phone. But I did enjoy seeing it coming down. There was nothing outside this morning tho. Take care my friend and have a great evening. May God Bless You and Yours.

    Love & Hugs,
    Karen H.

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  7. Hi Mary,
    I've enjoyed reading your Black History posts. Very interesting facts.

    I liked your meme answer too. Born a sinner, saved by Grace. That sums up my life as well.

    Hugs,
    Hope

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  8. I have been enjoying reading your posts about the history of escaped slaves in Canada.

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  9. Your memoir is beautiful, Mary.

    This history is so interesting...I knew some about the underground railroad, but not very much about the Canadian side or when the anti-slavery laws were passed there.
    Thanks for sharing!

    And, loved your postcards in Show and Tell, too! Isn't he just like Gibson from "the Gibson Girls" fame? Same era, same exact style!

    Come visit me Show and Tell if you can...I was late posting it!

    Blessings,
    ~Tammy

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  10. Thanks for your comments, Mary.

    I have found that for the past month I have hardly had time to post myself. The trip to Phoenix took several days and then I had to play 'catch up' with everything else. Oh well, I suppose that busy is mich better than bored.

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  11. What an absolutely perfect way to sum up a persons life.

    I am still holding you and yours in my prayers.

    God bless.

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  12. I loved the history at the beginning of your post.
    It is good to learn these things from a historical view point.
    After having two C-sections-my partial hysterectomy was not too bad.
    But circumstances made it so that I had to get up and move.
    I am sure Michelle will continue to get better with all ya'll looking after her.
    What a blessing for her to have family.

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  13. Hello dear Mary,

    I remember reading Uncle Tom's Cabin and how the slaves had used the Underground Railroad to enter into Canada. Is the Dawn Settlement open to the public? I would so love to visit there...love anything with history behind it!!

    Glad to hear that Michelle is doing well...that's the hard part after surgery, trying to move around. I know that Steve is really having a hard time with that. My prayers continue for her full recovery!!

    I loved what you chose for the six word meme. Well done!!

    We don't get cardinals around here but I wish we did, they're such beautiful birds. I'm looking forward to seeing the first robin but I know that won't be until at least April! lol

    Hope your weekend is going well my friend. xoxo

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  14. Great Job Mary! Loved the picture you chose to go with your 6 word sum up. Thanks for playing along.

    The other day our yard was full of robins. I am going to have to put seeds out for them because with this snow and ice on the ground I am afraid they will starve before it thaws out.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  15. That is a GREAT six-word memoir!

    Katherine

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  16. Good job with the meme, Mary. I've been tagged by Jo as well, and I'm really having to think about this one.

    I'm glad Michelle is doing well, but she'll do much better and won't be nearly as sore if she gets up and moves around.

    Hope your weekend is a good one, dear friend. ;o)

    Love and hugs,

    Diane

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  17. We are praying for Michelle and hope she gets to moving around like she should. What a lovely memoir! I so enjoy your history lessons and the kids are learning so much from them. It is fun, as I share them then they go do more research!

    Blessed thoughts and prayers,

    Cynthia

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  18. I'm happy to know Michelle is improving each day and hope she'll be fully recovered soon. Thanks for the additional Black History lesson. I love your response to the Meme and will need to give it some thought myself before I participate.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  19. Mary
    Another great history lesson and a wonderful choice of words for your meme. I would have loved to been on your walk with Meeko to enjoy that song. Take care Peace

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  20. Lovely Memoir. I think I will play along for Mondays Meme. Thanks for sharing...(keep that girl moving) I know you are a huge help to Michelle, she remains on our prayer list.

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  21. Hey girl,,,,,,,, such a busy weekend and no time to post.... Hope I will be able to get around to it tomorrow..... I am so glad that Michelle is home and yes she does need to get up and around...... I love the memoir and I think I will do that tomorrow.... for sure........ I love the new little touches on your blog.... Love reading your Black History posts..... You are such a talent.........I got the shop almost finished and will take some pictures tomorrow......... am deep in thought tonight....... so just trying to get around to all my friends before turning in.......

    happy hugs for Monday

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  22. I am thinking about the 6 word memoir. Yours was Perfect....Jennifer

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  23. I found you linked at greatfullivins blog:). Nice to meet another grateul gal. Lookin forward to getting to know you.

    Phyl

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  24. Hi....I've been trying to catch up all day since I got home from my doctor's appointment [she and I kinda had disagreements again, and she's finding out just how stubborn I can be] Anyway, that just made me worn out all day. LOL

    Mary, I LOVE your six word 'summing of your life' It's a great one.

    And your black history is always good. I'm wondering tho, are there still quite a few black descendants in Canada? Curious. I always hear Canada and think "French".

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  25. I love your six word sum up, could have used the same words for myself! Tell Michelle to take care of herself, everything else can wait. Will continue to pray!

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  26. That looked tough but you did a good job.
    I'm happy that Michelle is home and hope she doesn't overdo.

    Your postcards are pretty and I've enjoyed the black history lesson.
    Mama Bear

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  27. Mary,

    Great post! I'm very happy to hear that Michelle is progressing well. I guess it is important after surgery to be up and moving around, although very often painful. I know you will get her moving if she isn't. As always, she is in my thoughts and prayers.

    Great article on Canadian Black History! Very informative and interesting. Thank you!

    Very nice meme! This one is quite a challenge - 6 words and you chose them beautifully.

    Take care, my friend,
    Love & hugs,
    Tina

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  28. Hi Mary! I have the Wii back from the grandson and Kelly hooked up the key board so here I am tonight out visiting my friends! I am sooooo ready to have the laptop back!! But on the other hand I have been able to catch up on other things I needed to get done!! I have read a couple of books too!! Oh I did a new post too!! Love and Hugs Carolyn

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