The Sad History of Africville the Destination of the Underground Railroad

In researching the underground railroad, I thought it was interesting to look at where the former slaves went after their escape. As you know, many slaves escaped to Canada, which had abolished slavery and offered a promising destination for many slaves. One thing I found was that many slaves in Canada set up communities where they lived together. One prominent example of such a community is Africville, outside of Halifax in Nova Scotia. The community was first founded by slaves freed by the British during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The community continued to grow throughout the 1800s. Unfortunately, the community of Africville struggled as the city of Halifax failed to develop it or provide basic services, such as improved plumbing and roads. The city mistreated the community, treating it as an industrial area that was the site of toxic waste disposal. Eventually, in the 1960s following decades of decay, the government of Halifax condemned the area as blighted and tore it down for the construction of a highway and a bridge. This was harshly criticized by community members and activists who felt that the community was targeted since it was mostly black. These events were effectively the end of the Africville community. In 2010, after years of investigation, the Halifax city council officially apologized for its actions, designated some of the land as a historical monument, and offered compensation for descendants of families from Africville. The history of Africville both serves an example of a community of freed slaves that was established following their escape and of the sad mistreatment of former slaves and their descendants that continues to the present day.