110% .. "FBA is a lineage, a culture" not genes
Social Planning for the Negro, Past and Present on JSTOR
W. E. B. Du Bois, Social Planning for the Negro, Past and Present, The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jan., 1936), pp. 110-125
www.jstor.org
"In Haiti they won autonomy; in the United States they fled from the slave states in the South to the free states in the North and to Canada.
Here the Free Negroes helped form the Abolition Movement, and when that seemed to be failing, the Negroes began to plan for migration to Africa, Haiti and South America."
Dr. John Henry Clark - Collected Writings
Black Americans did flee (escape) to Canada, Mexico, several Caribbean nations, and Liberia, especially from the 1700s to the early 1900s. These migrations happened during slavery, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow. Here is the clear breakdown:
1. Escaping to Canada (Most Documented Route)
Yes — many enslaved Black Americans escaped to Canada, especially after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which made the U.S. unsafe even for freed Black people.
Why Canada?
- Slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1834.
- Canada refused to return escaped enslaved people.
- The Underground Railroad extended to Ontario (“Upper Canada”).
How many escaped to Canada?
- Historians estimate 30,000–40,000 arrived from 1830–1865.
- Communities formed in Ontario:
- Windsor
- Chatham
- Buxton
- Toronto
2. Escaping to Mexico
Yes — Mexico was another major escape destination, especially after Mexico abolished slavery in 1829.Why Mexico?
- Mexico refused to enforce U.S. fugitive slave laws.
- Several Mexican states granted protection to escaped enslaved people.
Key areas
- Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Veracruz
- Some joined Black Seminoles, who migrated to Mexico in the 1850s and got land in Coahuila.
Black Seminoles in Mexico
- They were known as Los Mascogos, living in Nacimiento, Coahuila.
- Descendants still exist today.
3. Caribbean Destinations
Yes — Caribbean islands also received escaped, freed, or migrating Black Americans, especially after the American Revolution and during the 1800s.Where did they go?
- Bahamas — enslaved Americans came with Loyalists after 1783; others fled there by boat from the U.S. South.
- Haiti — after Haiti became independent in 1804, it encouraged African Americans to migrate (particularly in 1820s).
- Trinidad — during the “Merikin” settlement (ex-U.S. Marines who fought for Britain in 1812).
- Barbados, Jamaica — some came fleeing U.S. racism during different periods.
4. Liberia (Major Organized Migration)
Yes — thousands of African Americans migrated to Liberia, though this was an organized movement rather than escape.
Who sent them?
- The American Colonization Society (ACS) encouraged Black Americans — free or formerly enslaved — to move to West Africa.
How many?
- Between 1822 and 1867, around 15,000 African Americans settled in Liberia.
- Their descendants became known as Americo-Liberians, who later formed Liberia’s political elite.
Summary Table
| Destination | Type of Migration | Why They Went | Estimated Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Escape via Underground Railroad | Freedom, protection from slave catchers | 30,000–40,000 |
| Mexico | Escape and settlement | Slavery abolished in 1829; protected fugitives | Several thousand |
| Caribbean (Bahamas, Haiti, Trinidad) | Escape + voluntary migration | British rule, abolition, freedom, military service | Thousands across regions |
| Liberia | Organized migration | ACS colonization efforts, seeking autonomy | ~15,000 |
Key Insight