Richard Pierpoint was enslaved, taken as a teenager from his home in what is now Senegal. He played a key role in forming the Coloured Corps., a group of free Black men in the Niagara area who fought for the British during the War of 1812.
<p“When it comes to knowing the history of extraordinary people in Black history in Niagara, you hear about them, and you don’t hear about them,” says Millicent Gordon, artistic director of Awakened Voices Narratives.
Pierpoint’s story will be shared as part of Awakened Voices Narratives, a live performance that celebrates Canadian Black history through art and storytelling. This event will take place on Feb. 14 at Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Catharines – the church where Tubman, the well-known abolitionist, worshipped.
The performances will happen in St. Catharines, where Pierpoint, who escaped slavery, was given 81 hectares of land in what used to be Grantham Township, now part of the city.
The show also took place last Saturday in Fergus, Ont., where Pierpoint received 40 hectares for his service during the War of 1812 instead of being allowed to return to Senegal.
Audiences will learn more about important figures like Harriet Tubman, Reverend Josiah Henson, Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, Marie-Joseph Angélique and others.
The stories draw from book excerpts and interviews with lesser-known Black figures from Canadian history retold by poets and actors over two hours during this live performance.
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Awakened Voices Narratives will perform at Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church, where prominent abolitionist Harriet Tubman attended services after moving to St. Catharines, Ont. (Diona Macalinga/CBC)
This year marks the first time Awakened Voices Narratives includes two white figures such as Rev. William King-an abolitionist from Louisiana who established the Buxton settlement in Chatham-Kent, Ont.
The Buxton settlement was built by 15 enslaved individuals who came with King; it became known as a safe haven for freedom seekers and free Black people.
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Millicent Gordon, artistic director of Awakened Voices Narratives based her scripts on interviews and books including Benjamin Drew’s A North-Side View of Slavery: The Refugee. (Submitted by Millicent Gordon)
While there she saw how few Black Canadian figures were featured prominently and felt driven to research and create Awakened Voices Narratives.
<p“Something we don’t see a lot in Black culture is how men love their women and will sacrifice a lot for their family,” said Gordon regarding scripted dialogue between married couple John and Ida Little who eventually settled in St. Catharines after gaining their freedom-moving on to Hamilton then finally Queen’s Bush, Ont.
Mathieu Da Costa-the first recorded Black man to visit Canada-who helped translate languages between European explorers and First Nations people will also be included in this performance.
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Mathieu Da Costa’s language skills also highlighted
Gordon graduated with a degree in political science and history from Carleton University before working at various radio stations hosting segments for Black History Month.Source link
