Жители Кингстона отметили День эмансипации: от признания исторической роли чернокожего сообщества до планов мэра Ванессах Менса

Kingston community members came together on Saturday to commemorate Emancipation Day in Confederation Park as experts on equity, inclusion and diversity reflected on a long history of resilience. Emancipation Day commemorates the abolition of slavery across the British Empire. Emancipation Day also recognizes the history, resilience, and contributions from Black communities in Canada. Keisha Facey, an Equity, Inclusion, and organizational change consultant, delivered a speech to Kingstonians that included details of Kingston’s past. “Kingston also reminds us that slavery was not simply an American story; it was a Canadian story as well,” said Facey. “Kingston sits on Indigenous land, so before the city became a centre for British colonial power, these lands were home to Indigenous people’s own experiences of dispossession,” Facey continued. Facey’s speech included a strong theme of hope and freedom as she detailed the community and infrastructure that Black people built in Kingston. “Kingston tells the story of Black Canada itself, not because it’s unique but because it reminds us that wherever Black people have gone we have insisted on leaving behind more hope than we found,” said Facey. Beyond the speeches, attendees had the opportunity to experience local art and food contributions from the Black community, as well as a kids’ zone that included crafts and books by Black Canadian authors. Members of city council and local candidates for the upcoming election listened and experienced contributions from the Black community in Kingston. Vanessah Mensah, a candidate in the Kingston mayoral race, acknowledged past contributions from the Black community that Facey’s speech referred to and reflected on this year’s theme, “Honouring the past, embracing the future.” “It’s about recognizing all of the efforts that have gone into making Kingston…A community that is welcoming, and that just embraces everyone,” said Mensah in an interview with YGK News. Mensah shared that the past fight for change and equality from Black communities helped pave the way for her to be in a position to run for local office. “I think about myself, who’s running for mayor right now…that wouldn’t have happened without the work that was done many, many years ago and continues to be done,” said Mensah. In the future, Mensah hopes to see more people within the Black community in key positions that influence the public, as well as supporting them in those positions. “My hope and desire is to see qualified individuals who represent a wide diversity of thinking, of skills, of knowledge be represented across our community,” said Mensah.