By Jason Misner
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, HDSB STAFF
Like many had successfully done during the dark period of slavery in North America, Canadian baseball pitching legend Fergie Jenkins’ mother’s family escaped in the 1800s and found freedom in Canada through the Underground Railroad.
Jenkins, a member of the Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame, told a gymnasium full of students earlier this month about his mother’s family coming to southern Ontario, originating from Kentucky.
“Canada has a rich history of all nationalities,” said the 2007 Order of Canada recipient, who was honoured on a Canada Post stamp to commemorate Black History Month.
During the 19th Century, thousands of enslaved and many free African-Americans fled the United States and made their way to Mexico and Canada where they could live as free citizens. In Canada, many refugees crossed over into what is now southwestern Ontario. They formed communities in the growing villages and towns or cleared the forests and pioneered new farmland. A network of sympathetic black and white abolitionists assisted in the escapes along their secret routes became known as the Underground Railroad.
Jenkins’ visit helped Abbey Park High School celebrate Black History Month in February. To help students across the Halton District School Board better understand black history, schools spent 19 days of learning with a daily announcement about an influential black Canadians and a biography about the individual to underscore their important contributions to a diverse Canadian society.
Some of the names include Robert Nathaniel Dett, a composer, pianist and choral director; Hariet Tubman, who worked secretly to help people into Canada from America via the Underground Railway; and Saskatchewan’s Harry Jerome, a former world record holder in the 100-metre sprint.
All schools received posters acknowledging Black History Month. In addition, there were displays in hallways and libraries, helping students celebrate important contributions of black people and better understanding their communities. On February 6, the Board secured 50 tickets for students to attend a celebration brunch in Burlington where Canada Post unveiled a Black History Month stamp.
To impress upon Abbey Park students how African Americans’ rights were stripped away decades ago, Jenkins talked about starting his baseball playing days in the 50s during a time when blacks were grossly mistreated in the United States. It was an eye-opening experience, said the one-time Harlem Globetrotter and semi-pro basketball player.
“I signed in 1952, I went to Miami. We couldn’t (stay) in the same hotels (as white people), we couldn’t eat in the same restaurants and we couldn’t go to Miami Beach,” he said, noting a time when he was allowed to eat in a restaurant but only in the kitchen. “To me, at 18 years old, it was a learning experience.”
Despite the challenges, Jenkins, a seven-time, 20-game winner, enjoyed a successful, hall of fame baseball career. But he stressed to students world-class athletes need an education.
“Unless I had a good grade average, I couldn’t play sports,” he said, adding education “is so very, very important.”
Grade 11 student Vanessa Lester was struck by Jenkins’ push that students, especially those who are promising athletes, attain a quality education.
“I think it’s important he got across that even if you want to be an athlete and you’re in high school, you still have to keep your grades up and get an education,” she said.
Lester said Black History Month is important to her because, “I’m strongly against racism; I have a strong belief that everybody is just as much a part of our society as everybody else.”
Abbey Park Principal Maria McLennan said she’s “thrilled” Jenkins spoke to the students because he “represents all of the things students need to know about being Canadian and black in the 60s when growing up was difficult.”
“I am very honoured to have Ferguson Jenkins here, he is such an amazing Canadian. He’s a member of the Order of Canada – how fabulous is that?”