The Second Underground Railroad

Politicians of all stripes, along with many Canadians, will be attending various venues in celebration of Black History Month.  Originating in America in 1926, it was focused on February because it marked the birthday of two famous Americans who influenced the lives and social conditions of black Americans - Abraham Lincoln and former slave Frederick Douglass.

Canadians feel their own rightful sense of pride in such remembrances because of the part this country played in the Underground Railroad - the path by which numerous blacks in the States escaped to Canada, primarily to southern Ontario, to build new lives. The names of most of those individuals has since been lost, but enough history has been compiled to show that the former slaves became participating members of Canadian communities, while always maintaining their unique history and identity. Their descendants remain among us to this day. It's a remarkable story deserving of the coverage given it.But there has been a second underground railroad that remains hidden to most Canadians. Beginning in the 1990s, the world was stunned to discover the tens of thousands of black Sudanese were held in chattel slavery - their lives the property of someone else. A short while later, Canadians and Americans together began the long and dangerous process of not only freeing such individuals but also assisting them in coming to Canada to resettle their lives. In a remarkable narrative, recounted by many in Canadian media, average citizens of this country traveled to Sudan and carried out delicate and complex dealings with the slave masters. Over a four year period, slightly over 10,000 slaves were freed and resettled in their historical villages in south Sudan. Some of that number applied for refugee status, eventually emerging in Canada in pursuit of freedom and education.Many Canadian communities now house these former slaves and welcome their contributions to daily community life. Their stories might never have been told or understood had the Canadian media not journeyed themselves repeatedly to the land of slavery and returned to tell their tale. The freedom of many now residing in Canada is the thankful result of these dedicated efforts.My wife and I were privileged to be part of such efforts starting in 1998 and continuing to the present. Last month we traveled to Sudan and saw many who had escaped slavery through Canadian efforts in years previous. While still facing difficult living conditions, they nevertheless quietly approach us each time and thank Canadians for the fact that they and their children are now free - for them, a remarkable gift from Canada. And we have been gifted as well. For my wife and I, our adoption of three children from Darfur, themselves liberated from slavery, will remain as one of the greatest realities of our relationship.Perhaps it's time to acknowledge the remarkable interventions of Canadians as this new Underground Railroad rides its own rails into this country's history books. There is much to take pride in about our national history, but the fact we are still writing it on the subject of slavery is a remarkable aspect of this great country and its continual emergence as a place of great blessing. A meaningful Black History month to all.