Unite Against Hate

Emancipation Day celebrations are returning to Brantford's Mohawk Park for a second year in a row. Last year, the event was celebrated in Brantford after an over 100-year hiatus, marking a significant historic moment for our city.

This year's event will again take place at the park's upper pavilions, THIS Sunday, July 28th.

The event will feature the second annual Emancipation Cup tournament, highlighting eight area soccer teams and curated by Ulysse Soccer Training.

The competing teams will be Victory FC, Hamilton Somali Stars, Phantom FC, BCB, Chantilly Forever FC, Upperline Strikers, Goathouse FC and the Hamilton Lions.

There will also be a vendor market in collaboration with BLK OWNED Hamont, and a historical information booth by Unite Against Hate!

The family-friendly event, open to all, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We look forward to welcoming everyone!

💥 OUR SECOND ANNUAL EMANCIPATION DAY CELEBRATION WILL BE ON SUNDAY, JULY 28TH! 💥

In Canada, Emancipation Day is recognized on August 1st. Emancipation Day marks the end of slavery in Canada in 1834. The date has been celebrated by the Black community in Canada since slavery was abolished.

Emancipation Day celebrations were held for many years in Brantford by the local community.
The celebrations usually included a picnic, a baseball game, a cake walk, music and dancing.

Last year, we made history when we gathered with friends, family and community at our first annual Emancipation Day Celebration and Emancipation Cup. It was the first Emancipation Day Celebration held in Mohawk Park in over 100 years.

Our event was well attended by the community, Brantford residents, and even some friends from Hamilton, Toronto and the East Coast.

In partnership with Ulysse Soccer Training, we offered a Soccer Showcase, with the winning team being awarded the Emancipation Cup for the first time! Congratulations to Victory Football Club!

We are excited to be hosting our SECOND annual Emancipation Cup on Sunday, July 28th 2024.

We can't wait to see you all!
Bring friends and family, all are welcome!

In Canada, Emancipation Day is celebrated on August 1st. Emancipation Day marks the end of slavery in Canada in 1834. The date has been celebrated by the Black community in Canada since slavery was abolished.

Emancipation Day celebrations were held for many years in Brantford by the local community.
The celebrations usually included a picnic, a baseball game, a cake walk, music and dancing. For some years, Emancipation Day celebrations were held at Mohawk Park or at the Agricultural Park (now Cockshutt Park.)

People from Toronto, Hamilton and Woodstock came to Brantford for Emancipation Day to celebrate. In 1904, more than 1,200 people attended the Emancipation Day events at Mohawk Park in Brantford. 

On Sunday, WE MADE HISTORY when we gathered with friends, family, and community at our first annual Emancipation Day Celebration and Emancipation Cup. It was the first Emancipation Day Celebration held in Mohawk Park in over 100 years. 

Our event was well attended by the community, Brantford residents, and even some friends from Hamilton, Toronto and the East Coast. 

In partnership with Ulysse Soccer Training, we offered a Soccer Showcase, with the winning team being awarded the Emancipation Cup for the first time! Congratulations to Victory Football Club!

Upperline Barbershop offered a Free BBQ and fed hundreds of people from the community, as well as Face Painting for the kids and a Live DJ.

It was a beautiful day and we'd like to thank our organizers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters.

It would not have been possible without everyone coming together with their shared love of the community!

Next year will be bigger and better and we are excited to celebrate with everyone again!

Let's make history together this Sunday at the first Emancipation Day Celebration held in Mohawk Park in over 100 years!

We are hosting this FREE event in partnership with Upperline Barbershop and Ulysse Soccer Training.

There will be a FREE BBQ, a Soccer Showcase, face painting for kids (1pm-3pm), educational resources and a live DJ.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, and to everyone who reached out to volunteer their time.

All are welcome to join us in our family-friendly celebration of togetherness and community.

Sunday, July 30th from 11am-6pm.

Mohawk Park, Upper Soccer Field.

💥EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT💥

Unite Against Hate is partnering with Upper Line Barber Shop and Ulysse Soccer Training to celebrate Emancipation Day with an event in the beautiful and historic Mohawk Park!

There will be a FREE BBQ hosted by Barber Dre and Broaster's Chicken (Vegetarian Options Available!).

Ulysse Soccer Training will be hosting a Soccer Showcase with matches running all day. Come watch the talented teams play for the First Annual Emancipation Cup!

Join us in a day of celebration, togetherness and family-friendly fun as we make history at the first Emancipation Day celebration in Mohawk Park in over 100 years!

Sponsorship opportunities available -- just send us a message and let's chat about how you can help support this empowering event!

🙏🏽🙏🏽 Thank you BTOWN for this feature article on the amazing community leader Barber Dre at Upper Line Hair and Beauty Salon!

BTOWN Community Feature :: Barber Dre Barber Dre Brantford's uncrowned King of fades. Angel Panag, February 27, 2023 // Brantford, Ontario Barber Dre at his shop Upper Line Barber Shop at 627 Park Road N., in Brantford, Ontario. Photo credit Photohouse Studio. He's a master of his craft, a genius behind a pair of clippers, and a whiz wi...

This has been a very inspiring and motivating Black History Month.

Thank you for all of the support from the community, including those who purchased merch, attended events, liked and shared our posts and offered words of encouragement.

Throughout our posts this month, we sprinkled excerpts from a poem that Amanda's grandfather wrote for his grandchildren in 2004. 

Neville Nunes is also being honoured as part of Hamilton's Black History Month 2023 programming.

Today we share his entire poem, and hope that it empowers us all:

I am, therefore I must be.

B.E. - this stands for Be. Excellent.

There's absolutely no question about this. 

DREAM of being tremendously successful, of reaching and scaling the heights. 

Prepare educationally - develop to the fullest your multiple talents academically, physically, artistically, psychologically, socially and spiritually.

PERSEVERE - work hard, hard, HARD to achieve, to reclaim, to reach and scale the heights.

Long ago we learned these lines:
The heights by great men reached, and kept,

were not attained by sudden flight,

but they, while their companions slept,

were toiling upwards in the night.

DARE to succeed. Become an upward night toiler. Really toiling upwards, not downwards, or marking time BUT SUCCESSFULLY UPWARDS.

CELEBRATE each achievement in the WORSHIP PLACE OF LIFE.

ENJOY ACHIEVING, Give THANKS AND PRAISE.

ADVANCE, move ahead, one step at a time, CAREFULLY, CAUTIOUSLY, testing the ground, taking no step for granted.

REMEMBER the fathers and forefathers, the mothers and their mothers.

REMEMBER the dream, YOUR dream.

REMEMBER the HARD WORK, the PREPARATION and the REASON.

You've now reached and must cross "ONE MORE RIVER".

CROSS IT. CLAIM THE GOAL. REALIZE THE DREAM.

CELEBRATE in the worship place of LIFE - creatively, joyfully.

TEACH ANOTHER, at least ONE other, this game plan.

UNDERSTAND that this amounts to TEACHING OTHERS, NUMEROUS OTHERS.

Do all these and BECOME ONE. 

Neville Nunes

CONTENT WARNING: Topic of racism, minstrelsy. We will not post images of these shows, but if you decide to research further, you may come across them. 

Unlike our previous historical post, this is an example of the disrespectful, dehumanizing behaviour that the Black community of Brantford faced. This shameful and racist practice was widespread and rampant, and was very popular right here in Brantford up until relatively recent years. 

Unite Against Hate prefers to uplift and build positivity, but we must recognize the historical and current failings of the system so that we can continue to work towards a welcoming Brantford for all.

LAST DAY TO PRE-ORDER!!

Get these shirts in your hands during the month of February by ordering today!

Deliveries will be completed this weekend on all orders that come through by MIDNIGHT.

Thank you to everyone who has ordered already -- we truly appreciate your support!

This Family Day Monday, we remember important musical achievements of some of Brantford's early Black residents. 

This group of musicians were well respected and revered, and we celebrate them for their tenacity, talent and professionalism. 

🎶 🧥 🥁 🙌🏽

"REMEMBER the fathers and forefathers, the mothers and their mothers."

Thank you for reading and sharing Part One last week.

Today we release Part Two of John Anderson's Story, please continue to learn, share and interact as we continue to work towards justice for all.

NEW ARTICLE RELEASE - Part Two - John Anderson's Story

In Part Two of John Anderson's Story, Angel Panag takes the reader through how John Anderson became a political symbol, how the legal battle went international, and John Anderson's eventual return to Africa. 

Read the rest of this amazing story here: 

https://www.uniteagainsthate.ca/blogs/unite-against-hate/john-anderson-story-pt-2-a-political-symbol-international-intervention-and-return-to-africa

You've now reached and must cross "ONE MORE RIVER".

CROSS IT. CLAIM THE GOAL. REALIZE THE DREAM.

What a weekend!

🔥🔥🔥

Thank you so much to everyone who attended, supported, listened, contributed, and strategized with us.

We are feeling so motivated and encouraged.

Our first Speaker Series was enlightening and inspiring, and the feedback from the community has been amazing.

Much gratitude to the speakers:



The goal was to Build Community Connections.. now let's get to work, together!

Our BHM special concert was monumental and SO much fun.

Huge shoutout to:
to


Let's do this again, Brantford!!!

Unite Against Hate is proud to announce that we are building a little library. All of the books are available for the public to borrow, with easy ordering through our website. Borrowing these books is FREE OF CHARGE.

The available titles are related to Black History (local, national and international) and/or Social Justice. Check out our collection, and let us know if you have any recommendations or donations of books to add to the growing library!

https://www.uniteagainsthate.ca/pages/socialjusticelibrary

"TEACH ANOTHER, at least ONE other, this game plan.

UNDERSTAND that this amounts to TEACHING OTHERS, NUMEROUS OTHERS."

Yesterday, we raised the Pan-African flag at Harmony Square alongside Mayor Davis and some members of council.

The Pan-African flag is a representation of freedom for the Black community. It was created in the early 20th century in a response to racism.

The flag is a reminder that despite the forward steps we are taking, we still have many steps to take on our journey towards an equitable, safe and just Brantford for all.

Unite Against Hate has been working hard to develop accessible educational modules to teach the young people of Brantford & the County of Brant about LOCAL Black History.

🎓 📝 💭 📢

We are proud to announce that the Grand Erie District School Board has reviewed and approved our modules with connections to Primary and Junior curriculum.

These educational activities are available for FREE PDF DOWNLOAD on our website:

https://www.uniteagainsthate.ca/pages/educationresources

SHARE, LEARN, TEACH. INSPIRE THE YOUTH!

"Prepare educationally - develop to the fullest your multiple talents academically, physically, artistically, psychologically, socially and spiritually."

BRANTFORD'S BLACK HISTORY

NEW ARTICLE RELEASE - Part One - John Anderson's Story

While names like Gretzky and Graham Bell are well known for their local connections, far fewer know the story of John Anderson. The both tragic and triumphant story of this African Canadian freedom seeker spanned three continents and four countries. Held in a Brantford jail cell, his court battle would garner international attention and help define Canadian sovereignty.

"ADVANCE, move ahead, one step at a time, CAREFULLY, CAUTIOUSLY, testing the ground, taking no step for granted."

Read part one of Angel Panag's in-depth article and analysis of the Case of John Anderson here:

John Anderson Story Pt 1: Freedom Seeker, Brantford’s Racist Mayor, an John Anderson's Story Pt 1: Freedom Seeker, Brantford’s Racist Mayor, and The Power of Community By Angel Panag John Anderson. Stock Photo. While names like Gretzky and Graham Bell are well known for their local connections, far fewer know the story of John Anderson. The both tragic and triumphant...

NEW ARTICLE RELEASE - Part One - John Anderson's Story

While names like Gretzky and Graham Bell are well known for their local connections, far fewer know the story of John Anderson. The both tragic and triumphant story of this African Canadian freedom seeker spanned three continents and four countries. Held in a Brantford jail cell, his court battle would garner international attention and help define Canadian sovereignty.

"ADVANCE, move ahead, one step at a time, CAREFULLY, CAUTIOUSLY, testing the ground, taking no step for granted."

Read part one of Angel Panag's in-depth article and analysis of the Case of John Anderson here:
https://www.uniteagainsthate.ca/blogs/unite-against-hate/john-anderson-story-pt-1-freedom-seeker-brantford-s-racist-mayor-and-the-power-of-community

This February, show your support by purchasing and wearing one of our t-shirts:

👏🏽💥👕💪🏽

All proceeds from merch sales go towards Unite Against Hate's Black History month programming.

T-shirts are available for $20+HST on our website:
 www.uniteagainsthate.ca
and
www.zbtfd.ca

Delivery within Brantford & the County of Brant and Free pick-up options available. 

"UNDERSTAND that this amounts to TEACHING OTHERS, NUMEROUS OTHERS."

We celebrate the achievements of Brantford's Black residents, historically and today.

Throughout our posts this month, we will be including quotes and drawing inspiration from a letter written by Neville Nunes to his grandchildren in 2004. Amanda (co-founder of Unite Against Hate) is one of those grandchildren.

Neville Nunes is being honoured as a community leader and educator as part of Hamilton's Black History Month programming, and we wish to continue his legacy here in Brantford.

Today, we take a look at the career and admiration of Jimmy Wilkes, who played for the Brantford Red Sox for ten years!

He led the Red Sox to five titles during this time. 

"DREAM of being tremendously successful, of reaching and scaling the heights."

Today marks the first day of Black History Month 2023.

🙏🏽 🖤 ✊🏽⚡️

It is important to educate yourself about the achievements, perseverence and dreams of Brantford's Black community, historically and today.

Throughout the month of February, Unite Against Hate will be releasing new content, updating existing content, and hosting empowering events in our community.

Please pay close attention to our posts and share widely.

As part of our Black History Month 2023 programming, and in partnership with Bummer Records and zBTFD, we are bringing a super HUGE SECRET band to Two Doors in Brantford, with two amazing opening acts BURNER and ASHLEY SCHATZE.

🔥💥🔥💥

If you enjoy live music and an energetic atmosphere...you do NOT want to miss this. I can't stress this enough.

💥SAVE THE DATE💥

As part of our programming for Black History Month 2023, we have some very special, INSPIRING and MOTIVATING events planned.

Get empowered to be the change in our community at our very first Speaker Event on Friday, February 10th from 4pm-7pm in the Carnegie building at Laurier Brantford.

At this event, you will:

Learn about Brantford's Black history from the amazing Tracy Cain, who is a descendent of some of the earliest freedom seekers to settle in Brantford.

Take inspiration from community leader Kojo Damptey, who has co-chaired the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion for many years, and is currently teaching a course in African and African Diaspora Studies at McMaster University.

Strategize with Amanda Mersereau, co-founder of Unite Against Hate, on tangible ways we can impact this community today and tomorrow.

Limited space, free to attend.

What is Emancipation Day?

On this day in 1834, the British parliament decided to end slavery across its empire.

In many ways, the end of slavery did not equate to freedom for Black folks in this country.
Still faced with prejudice and discrimination, and in some cases still working for the people who once enslaved them, the impact of this is felt to this day.

On this Emancipation Day, Unite Against Hate is releasing an article by essayist and social justice advocate Destiny Pitters. In her article, she will take you through many helpful practices that build safer communities as we work together to eradicate the remnants of injustice that colonialism, capitalism and slavery left behind.

Link to Destiny's article: https://www.uniteagainsthate.ca/blogs/unite-against-hate/community-based-care-alternatives-building-blocks-for-a-just-future

Please check out and share the new article written by Destiny Pitters on Medical Racism.

In the article, Destiny examines racism within Canada's medical system and the impact of these failures. Destiny uses statistics and makes present day connections to historical racism including the Atlantic slave trade.

Read the entire article here: https://www.uniteagainsthate.ca/blogs/unite-against-hate/fight-for-your-right-navigating-medical-racism

A note from the author: Medical racism affects all racialized folks and especially those Indigenous to Turtle Island. This article specifically looks at anti-Black medical racism as that is the lens from which the author understands and can speak personally.

Check out the latest article by Destiny Pitters!

In this piece she graciously defines several terms that will help broaden your understanding of intersectionality and the role it plays in becoming actively anti-racist.

An excerpt from Destiny's article:

"Importantly, grappling with intersectionality depends on fundamentally seeing Black people as human, and thus subject to the same range of human diversity as any other group."

Read the full article by clicking the link.

Black Lives Matter – But Which Ones? Black Lives Matter - But Which Ones? by Destiny Pitters If you’re unfamiliar with the bolded terms in this article, check out the definitions at the end! Although the slogan “Black Lives Matter” has been a rallying call for the world to recognize dignity in the Black community and put an end t...

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BRANTFORD'S BLACK HISTORY ARCHIVE is now live on our website!

We have been researching and developing this content since Unite Against Hate started in 2020.

We will continue to add to this section as we discover more of Brantford's Black History.

Read, learn, share, and send us an email if you know of something we missed!
💥💥💥

www.uniteagainsthate.ca

Please take the time to read Destiny's new article on accountability.

From the article: "Responsibility is a blessing; it is a great gift to have a community or individual to be held accountable to."

https://www.uniteagainsthate.ca/blogs/unite-against-hate/getting-called-out-is-an-act-of-love

Getting Called Out is an Act of Love Getting Called Out is an Act of Love Especially About Discrimination by Destiny Pitters Main photo from Atlassian In public spheres, the abundance of online comments and debates about politics might have you believe that we are comfortable with ideological confrontation. It’s easy to get angry in ...

For our final post this month, we are introducing the concept of a Black Futures Resolution. 

This is to inspire and motivate everyone to make and keep a commitment for the rest of the year. This is to implore that we all must do more for Black Futures, during and BEYOND the month of February. 

What will you do to enhance and celebrate Black Futures from March 1st-January 31st every year?

Too often we only see posts, shares and (limited) action during the month of February. 

Tomorrow we will be releasing another article by Destiny Pitters. 
In this article, she presents a very important analysis of accountability, key steps towards being anti-racist and how to do better. We are very grateful for the time she took to express these ideas, please stay tuned for the link to the entire article.

In today's feature, we will talk about the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses for Black Futures. 

Supporting Black-owned businesses means supporting Black families and individuals who have historically been underserved by government and educational institutions, and discriminated against by the general population, banking institutions (mortgage lending), healthcare institutions and the police. 

Brantford is home to dozens of Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Supporting these businesses helps Brantford's Black community build generational wealth. Contributing to these businesses is an opportunity to improve our quality of life, while helping close the racial wealth gap. 

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We have added three more of Brantford's Black-owned businesses to our growing list, and we encourage those who aren't yet listed to reach out to us. 

As always, there is no fee to be listed. 

Pictured is Toni, owner and operator of Toni's Fine Foods, a new Carribean market and restaurant in Brantford. They are located at 128 Nelson St. 

Visit their website for more information: www.tonisfinefoods.ca

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER UNTIL MAR 1st on our website:

www.uniteagainsthate.ca

💥💥💥💥

This t-shirt release is designed by Destiny Pitters, a Brantford resident and incredible writer/contributor for Unite Against Hate! 

Destiny is a second-generation immigrant with roots in Jamaica, being born in Tkaronto and raised on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Neutral Peoples in Brantford. She is passionate about social and environmental justice and has spent many years dedicated to learning about and contributing to these efforts, with particular interests in decolonization, abolition and mutual aid. In her free time, Destiny likes doing art with zine-making, collaging and drawing. Her Instagram is .

Destiny is donating $10 from each t-shirt sale to Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), a charitable organization driven by a mission to mobilize all Hamiltonians to create an inclusive and welcoming city.

HCCI hosts regular programming such as a Black Youth Mentorship Program, Anti-Oppression Training and an Anti-Racism Conference.

Unite Against Hate is launching a new feature on our website, where Brantford residents can anonymously report a hate crime.

Our plan is to collect the data submitted, and share with city councillors from the reporting neighbourhoods so that they may better understand the types of incidents occurring in their areas. 

With this information, we will urge the councillors to take action in educating their constituents on anti-racism and implement tactics to prevent such crimes from taking place. 

The Report a Hate Crime feature can be found by clicking the drop menu in the top left of our home page. 

Please share widely so that we can take concrete steps in preventing hate crimes in Brantford. 

For mental health support from a Black Therapist who may better understand your unique experience: https://www.blacktherapistlist.com/