Emancipation Day, observed on August 1, commemorates the day in 1834, when the Slavery Abolition Act,1833 came into effect. The law liberated enslaved people in the British colonies, including Canada. And yet it was only in 2021 that Canadian parliament designated August 1 National Emancipation Day.

The abolition of enslavement did not end the struggle for equality and justice for Black people in our country. To this day, the history of enslaved people in Canada is often overlooked and the crucial role that enslaved Africans and their descendants have played in shaping our social and cultural landscapes has yet to be fully recognized.

Today is an occasion to remind ourselves of the contributions that Black people have made to the inclusive and equitable society that Emancipation Day demands, and the work that still needs to be done to ensure that Black people, their culture and history take their rightful place in our society and in our union.

We still deal with the legacy of enslavement and it continues to injure and harm the Black communities. Systemic racism and discrimination continue to drive our efforts to combat racism and promote equality.

There are still powerful forces working against those goals. As trade unionists, we must never lose sight of the right-wing efforts to preserve white supremacy and the systemic racism that upholds it. In our union, we must guard against the coded language and dog-whistle politics of Ford and Poilievre and fight them through our union’s education, solidarity and activism.

We have only to look at our own union for reasons to celebrate the many ways that Black members have contributed to the development and vitality of CUPE Ontario. The activism and talent of Black leaders in our union has contributed himself enormously to ensuring that the voices of Black members are heard in CUPE.

For that reason, we are immensely proud of CUPE Ontario’s Anti-Racism Organizational Action Plan (AROAP), which undertakes the critical work tackling this the systemic underrepresentation and exclusion of Black, racialized, and Indigenous members in our union.  This year we are pleased to welcome the second group of members to the Women in Leadership Development (WILD) program, which is designed to develop the capacity of Black, racialized, and Indigenous members leaders in our union and our communities.

Leading up to August 1, CUPE Ontario’s Racial Justice Committee coordinates members’ participation in Toronto’s Carnival Grand Parade. For the last few years, we have partnered with EPIC (Energy, Passion, Imagination, Culture) Carnival Experience, a community-based not-for-profit organization. Their creative team works with the Racial Justice committee to achieve the goal of integrating Caribbean culture into our multicultural community and showcase the many ways that celebration and resistance can intersect. The joy and excitement that is Carnival is part of the various Emancipation Day celebrations across the country. It is an opportunity for solidarity and pride.

Emancipation Day is not just a historical commemoration but a also a day of refection, acknowledgment, and education. It serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of Black communities and an opportunity to recommit to the work needed to build a more inclusive and equitable society.

On August 1 we commit to continuing the work of those who fought for freedom and equality. CUPE Ontario will always work alongside those who will engage in the ongoing struggle toward the eradication of racism and the promotion of equality.

As we celebrate the sense of freedom and liberation this day brings, CUPE Ontario urges members to take action in the ongoing fight to dismantle and get rid of anti-Black racism. CUPE National has further suggestions and resources and we encourage CUPE members and locals to check them out:

Categories: Racial Justice, Solidarity