Borderland Blacks: A Conversation with Dann J. Broyld, PhD

The American-Canadian borderlands hold a special significance in Black history that few of us fully understand. In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Dan J. Broyld, author of "Borderland Blacks," we explore how Rochester, NY and St. Catharines, Ontario became pivotal centers of Black freedom, entrepreneurship, and transnational identity during the final years of slavery. Dr. Broyld offers fascinating geographic insights into why Rochester—rather than closer border cities like Buffalo—became the optimal Underground Railroad hub. Just far enough from the border to avoid the concentration of slave catchers but close enough to facilitate escape, Rochester"s position combined with its strong abolitionist culture created the perfect conditions for Black liberation work. Frederick Douglass"s strategic 25-year residence there, where he established his newspaper North Star, exemplifies how Black leaders utilized borderland spaces to maximize their freedom and impact. The conversation takes an illuminating turn when Dr. Broyld reframes historical figures through a contemporary lens. Harriet Tubman emerges not just as a freedom fighter but as remarkably modern—"global, green, and gender aware." Her seven years in St. Catharines, her expert navigation of natural landscapes, and her strategic decision to seek freedom under "the Queen"s soil" rather than "Uncle Sam"s land" reveal a sophisticated understanding of international politics and environmental knowledge that resonates with today"s concerns. Perhaps most compelling are the stories of borderland entrepreneurs like John W. Lindsay and Austin Stewart, who built significant wealth and community resources despite beginning with nothing. Their ability to create grocery stores, blacksmithing businesses, and other enterprises challenges simplistic narratives about Black economic development post-slavery. The transnational character of these communities—celebrating August 1st (British Emancipation Day) more enthusiastically than July 4th and using cutting-edge technology like suspension bridges—reveals how borderland Blacks were, in many ways, ahead of their time. Discover how these historical Black communities embodied Afrofuturist principles before the term existed, utilizing the most advanced technology of their era and creating transnational networks that transcended national boundaries. Their story continues to resonate today, reminding us that movement itself can be liberation, and that Black identity has always been global in scope and vision. Support the show https://www.patreon.com/c/EA_BookClub