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The Walrus

slavery

An early 19th century illustration of slaves and white men unloading ships
Society

Tainted Wealth: Canada Has Tried to Erase Its History of Slavery

February 25, 2022 - by Andrew Hunter

The economy was linked to the building of slave ships, the sale of enslaved people, and enslaved labour

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Illustration of a Black woman's face in profile on a locket necklace. Over the necklace falls the shadow of a white man's face in profile.
Society

Our Unspoken Discomfort with Interracial Relationships

October 1, 2020January 29, 2021 - by Charmaine A. Nelson

Canada’s history of slavery has had a profound impact on how we view cross-racial couples

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An illustration of a classroom, in which a teacher erases a blackboard. A Black student is seated in front of the board and the student's head is also being erased by the chalkboard eraser.
Society

Stop Whitewashing Our National History

July 13, 2020October 13, 2020 - by Tayo Bero

Canada likes to brand itself as tolerant, multicultural, and benevolent. Black communities know that’s not true

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Illustration by Sébastian Thibault
June 2018 / Society

Black Cemeteries Force Us to Re-examine Our History with Slavery

May 28, 2018January 30, 2022 - by Charmaine A. Nelson

How we treat the dead tells a disturbing story about Canada’s racism

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A fugitive slave ad that appeared in the Quebec Gazette.
Education

The Canadian Narrative about Slavery Is Wrong

July 21, 2017June 12, 2020 - by Charmaine A. Nelson

Casting ourselves as the “saviours” of African American fugitives fits neatly into our national identity. But this country, too, was founded on exploitation

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The Walrus is located within the bounds of Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit. This land is also the traditional territory of the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.
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