| On August
1st, 1834 the government of Upper Canada
formally enacted the Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation
freed slaves in Canada sparking great celebration and encouraging
thousands to escape slavery in America and follow the North Star
to freedom in Canada. |
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Pictured
is the Emancipation Day Parade in Amherstburg in the 1890’s. Amherstburg
was one of the first communities to present celebrations. Windsor's
Emancipation Day celebrations were eventually moved to back to
Amherstburg. Courtesy
article Windsor Star July 20, 1991. |
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In
1932 Walter
Perry launched “The Greatest Freedom Show on Earth” in
Windsor. Walter Perry and Garry Eaton promote
celebration, Courtesy of the Windsor Star, July 21, 1965. |
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The
Emancipation Day Celebrations drew tens of thousands of
Canadians and Americans to Windsor’s Jackson park. Celebrants
pack the grandstand at Jackson Park, Courtesy of the Windsor
Star, July 31, 1950. |
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Including
such illustrious guests as activist Mary McLeod Bethune, actress
Dorothy Dandridge. Dr. & Mrs.
Roy Perry host Dorothy Dandridge, Courtesy of the Windsor Star,
April 24, 1964. |
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And
a young Rev. Martin Luther King pictured here with Russel Small,
President of the
Emancipation Committee, Rev. Theodore S Boone of Detroit and
Walter Perry. Courtesy of the Windsor Star,
August 7, 1956. |
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| Those in attendance enjoyed 4 days of fun including
including the midway, talent shows, sporting events, Sunday sunrise
services, gospel choirs, musical concerts with top artists such
as Diana Ross and the Supremes and Stevie Wonder and |
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Emancipation
Day Organizer Edmund (Ted) Powell (Windsor Star 13/05/1971)
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National Guardsmen
during Detroit Riots 1967 (Courtesy of Wayne State University) |
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Miss Sepia 1977 with
Edmund Powell (Windsor Star 2/08/1977) |
| Walter Perry passed away in 1967. Mr Edmund (Ted)
Powell assumed responsibility for organizing Emancipation Day
celebrations. Following the riots in Detroit in 1967 the Emanicipation
Celebration was cancelled due to security concerns. In 1969
the festivities resumed. Controversy erupted over the City
of Windsor’s decision to move the festival to Mic Mac
Park in 1977. Ted Powell was dismayed when attendance dropped
from around 30,000 to 16,000 that year. The celebration was
eventually relocated to Amherstburg. |
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