Cultural Tourism, Commemorative Plaques, and African-Canadian Historiography: Challenging Historical Marginality

Abstract

Although Black Canadians have participated in the history of Canada since the European invasion, the study of Blacks in Ontario has been a marginalized historical endeavour. Recently the marketing of Black history as a tourist attraction has attempted to bring the African-Canadian experience to the attention of the general public. Commemorative plaques, erected by local historical societies and all three levels of government, including the Ontario Heritage Foundation of the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Tourism, form the backbone of these tours. The absence of plaques pertaining to experiences since the Civil War and the wording and viewpoint of many of the older plaques, however, do not do full justice to Blacks’ role in the history of the province.