An exhibition curated by Jamaican-Canadian historian Afua Cooper is now on display at United Nations headquarters in New York City.
Titled A History Exposed: The Enslavement of Black People in Canada, the exhibition is being showcased in the Visitors’ Lobby through April 20. It explores more than two centuries of enslavement under French and British colonial rule and examines Canada’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.
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Dr. Cooper described the project as a milestone, noting it represents Canada’s first national exhibition focused on the enslavement of Black people. According to the UN, the exhibit challenges longstanding assumptions and highlights often-overlooked aspects of Canadian history.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised the initiative, stating that it “sheds light on the complex realities and long-silenced histories of enslavement” while honouring the resilience and cultural strength of affected communities.
The exhibition draws on archival materials and personal narratives, including the story of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, whose 1734 act of resistance in Montreal has become a symbol of the struggle for freedom.
David Lametti, Canada’s Permanent Representative to the UN, said the exhibition acknowledges a critical chapter of national history and underscores the importance of education and remembrance in addressing the legacies of slavery.
The project was developed by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in partnership with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, with support from the UN Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery.
An opening reception was held on March 24, followed by a General Assembly commemoration on March 25, marking the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Originally launched in Canada in August 2024, the exhibition is scheduled to tour multiple locations across the country through 2030, including Ottawa, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
Dr. Cooper, originally from Westmoreland, Jamaica, is a prominent scholar, author, and cultural advocate whose work has significantly advanced the study of Black Canadian history, enslavement, and the African diaspora.
