As part of Black History Month 2020, this talk by Barrington Walker will consider the history of the church in Black Canada and its role in affirming community bonds and forging Black freedom from early emancipation until the emergence of a “secular” civil rights movement.

Through a case studies approach, and by drawing upon published scholarship and community histories, Walker will highlight stories of the Black Church from the 18th to the 20th century. Walker will explore how the church has anchored Black Canadians in the context of a settler racial colonial state and created new identities and cultures in a place where full freedom and citizenship have been and continue to be elusive. This talk suggests that careful consideration of the Black Church alerts us to the possibilities and the limits of Black belonging in Canada.

See more Black History Month events supported by U of G.

Presented in collaboration with the University of Guelph’s Cultural Diversity Office.