The Underground Railroad: Next Stop, Toronto!

by Adrienne Shadd, Afua Cooper, Karolyn Smardz Frost

Stories of the hopeful, brave people who fled slavery and made Toronto their home.

“An engaging and highly readable account of the lives of Black people in Toronto in the 1800s.” ― Lawrence Hill, bestselling author of The Illegal

The Underground Next Stop, Toronto! explores Toronto’s role as a destination for thousands of freedom seekers before the American Civil War. This new edition traces pathways taken by people, enslaved and free, who courageously made the trip north in search of liberty and offers new biographies, images, and information, some of which is augmented by a 2015 archaeological dig in downtown Toronto.

Within its pages are stories of courageous men, women, and children who overcame barriers of prejudice and racism to create homes, institutions, and a rich and vibrant community life in Canada’s largest city. These brave individuals established organizations not only to help newcomers but also to oppose the ongoing slavery in the United States and to resist racism in their adopted city.

Based entirely on original research, The Underground Railroad offers fresh insights into the rich heritage of African Americans who became African Canadians and helped build Toronto as we know the city today.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Canada

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2002

About the author

Adrienne Shadd is a researcher, writer, curator and editor living in Toronto. She is co-author of We're Rooted Here and They Can't Pull Us Up: Essays in African Canadian Women's History, co-editor of Talking About Identity: Encounters in Culture, Language and Identity with Carl James and recently has curated exhibitions entitled "...and still I rise" in Hamilton, Ontario, on the experience of African-Canadian workers in the twentieth century.

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating and educational read!
Although I have read a few historical fiction novels focused on the Underground Railway, I have not read a non fiction novel totally dedicated to this topic. Even though I live in a part of Canada that was an integral part of the underground railway journey, in Essex County Ontario, I was not familiar with the significance of the role played by Toronto as a true land of opportunity for Blacks as early as 1793.

Slavery was officially abolished in York (which became Toronto) and in Upper Canada (which became the Province of Ontario) in 1833 when the British 1833 Emancipation Act became effective, freeing all slaves owned by British subjects around the world, including Canada.

Once Blacks arrived in Toronto, they became the pioneers who organized and developed social, cultural, religious opportunities and events to maintain and celebrate the heritage of African-Torontonians.

The authors did much research, which they explain in the final chapter of the book, of the unique occasions offered in Toronto to the Blacks once they arrived via the Underground Railway. Education, shelter, employment were available and accessible. By the 1850’s public schools, as well as higher education in Toronto were open to Blacks, unlike many other areas.

The authors give many examples of how life for Blacks developed within Toronto, as well as the nearby communities. Now I’m not suggesting it was perfect, but it truly provided hope for betterment.

I learned much about the diversity of people who arrived and made Toronto their new home, started businesses, raised families, and encouraged others to follow suit.

However much changed when the civil war ended. Racism and discrimination erupted in Toronto, driving many blacks out. Businesses that once thrived were no more, and the welcoming environment the blacks had enjoyed had disappeared.

This author highlights a variety of Blacks in Toronto during the Underground Railroad era, from noted first black doctor to graduate from medical school in Toronto, to publishers of black newspapers, to families in business, to an unknown washerwoman.

Very informative. I will certainly read more by these authors on the Underground Railroad.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A valuable resource for anyone wanting to learn more about Toronto’s role in being a home for those escaping slavery.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been wanting to read Non-fiction books about this time in our history for a long time. This book fit the bill. The author had a great explanation of “The Underground Railroad”which helps to understand.

The Underground Railroad: Next Stop Toronto pg 18

The Underground Railroad was not a real railroad. It referred to the system of secret routes and safe houses by which escaped slaves made their way north to freedom.The term originated in 1831 when fugitive Tice David crossed the Ohio River and disappeared.

Some terminology included “stations” or “stops”, “stationmasters” were selfless people who took them in. “Conductors” drove wagons or carts hiding the fugitives . ....pg 18

Moving onto Steal Away Home by same author, stay tuned.

[Golfergirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provided some interesting history of the black community in Toronto. The book is brief and leaves many questions unanswered. I found it puzzling that there was a vibrant, active and accepted community in Toronto, that subsequently seems to have disappeared. Where did they go, and why?

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, co-authored by some of Canada's top scholars of Black Canadian history, is an excellent introduction to Black Canadian history and as the title suggests, does focus on Toronto. It discusses the maps and routes of the Underground Railroad taken by fugitive African-descended enslaved people who escaped from plantations in the Southern United States and crossed over into Canada. While more discussions to deconstruct the narrative of Canada's beneficence in transatlantic slavery would have been a benefit to the text overall, it remains a useful and crucial guide to those wanting to know where to start learning more about Black Canadian history and significant figures, including Mary Ann Shadd, Anna Maria Jackson, and many others.

[Kb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book of research into the lives of black people in Toronto from the early 1800s to approximately the time of the American Civil War, although the timelines of some families and institutions persist to the turn of the 20th century. This is the first book I have read that concentrates on Toronto as a destination on the Underground Railroad. There is a breadth of information, but not much depth. The book is written in such a way that a bright elementary school student would have no trouble using it as source material for a class project. Adult scholars might find this book more useful as a jumping-off point to pursue original source materials.

[Carolyn Whitzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just enormous fun. Aimed at a young adult audience and based on an exhibition, the book summarises the first century of Black presence in Toronto. Great illustrations and biographies. Doesn’t gloss over the horrors of slavery in either the US or Canada but also highlights everyday lives in a very appealing manner. I’ve been been reading a lot of books on the topic for my own research and I definitely learned a lot of new information. Also, it was a 2 hour read.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading The Underground Railroad:Next Stop, Toronto! I hope there are more books like this.

[Mary-Esther Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting account of Black peoples’ contributions to Toronto society.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a lot of details but still a very valuable book. There was a lot of diving to find these stories and it shows on every page. You just wish you could find more.

[Kier Scrivener · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, most interesting, and informative books I've ever read. A trove of history and stories in an academic but down to earth way. I love history that looks at everyday people and I learned so much about Canada and about Black Canadians.

[Lynda Kraar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read. There are harrowing accounts of the amazingly brilliant and heroic individual refugees who successfully beat slavery by risking their lives to cross the border - with the help of many committed people - into Canada. This short volume also tells the story of how Toronto evolved to become a haven of tolerance and acceptance in the new world. Foibles? Heck, yeah. But always striving to make room for the next wave of immigrants.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was super amazing as a Black woman who was born and raised in Toronto to learn about Black Torontonians contributions to the city and to also learn their stories. Thank you to the authors for writing this book I\m forever grateful to y'all!