Mary Ann Shadd: Journalism, Activism, and the Power of Words

Mary Ann Shadd Cary was the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America. But Mary Ann Shadd didn’t just make history by being first. With her newspaper “The Provincial Freeman,” she captured history. Today, her perspective deepens our understanding of the past and is an example of why representation in journalism matters.
In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with two of Shadd’s descendants: Marishana Mabusela, our researcher for this podcast, and her mother, writer and historian Adrienne Shadd.

Show Notes

Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

This episode was written and produced by Hannah Sung.

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau.

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.      

Thank you to Marishana Mabusela and to our script consultant, Adrienne Shadd.

Fact-checking by Sean Young.

Additional reading:

·       Mary Ann Shadd

·       Underground Railroad

·       Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

·       Black History in Canada Until 1900

 

Follow Historica Canada on Twitter,  Instagram , and TikTok @HistoricaCanada and on Facebook at facebook.com/Historica.Canada/ 

What is Strong and Free?

Tracing stories from the earliest Black settlers to recently arrived Canadians, Strong and Free captures just a few of the crucial stories of Black Canadians thriving and contributing to building this country.

Listen to Strong and Free, a six-part podcast from Historica Canada, produced by Media Girlfriends. Because Black history is Canadian history.