Marie-Josèphe Angélique

[FiveParadox]

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Governor General of Canada, today made a speech at a tribute to the late Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a Portuguese-born slave who had been convicted of arsen, and subsequently tortured and executed in public. The representative of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada brought to the forefront a part of history that has, at times, stood forgotten — and is a testament to the darker parts of the history of Canada, even before Canada had come into being.

Marie-Josèphe, one of many Black slaves owned in New France, is thought by some to have set fire to her owners' home, and attempted to escape; she was arrested shortly thereafter. However, the fire that she is accused of having set caused widespread, devastating damage through much of the city of Montréal.

While she plead "not guilty", Marie-Josèphe was convicted of arson. The sentence handed down by the Court was to be burned alive; however, this sentence was later altered to be hanged in public, after having the hand that had supposedly set the fire amputated. She was forced to attend a Church during her humiliating drive through the down on the back of a cart, where she was forced to plead forgiveness from God, His Late Majesty the King of France, and other subjects of the then-King.

Judge Pierre Raimbault[/color]]MARIE-JOSÈPHE ANGÉLIQUE, negress, slave woman of Thérèse de Couagne, widow of the late François Poulin de Francheville, you are condemned to die, to make honourable amends, to have your hand cut off, be burned alive, and your ashes cast to the winds.

Click here to read the entire article in English.
Cliquetez içi pour lire l'article entier en français.

Her Excellency the Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean[/color], C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.,]I am deeply moved to be here at La Maison Parent-Roback. Within these walls, I can feel the very strong presence of those two extraordinary women, Madeleine Parent and Léa Roback, who led the charge to improve the lives of female workers and immigrants. We have come together in this women’s centre to pay tribute to Marie-Josèphe Angélique, whose tragic life powerfully symbolizes our search for freedom and equality.

This woman was Black. This woman was but one of many slaves, here in Montreal. In 1734, she was arrested, tried, tortured and publicly executed, just steps away from this very spot, for a crime she undoubtedly did not commit. One thing is certain: her strength of character never wavered. She was considered by some to be impertinent to those who had reduced her to servitude. She even rebelled.

Click here to read the entire speech in English.
Cliquetez içi pour lire la parole entière en français.

:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Governor General of Canada.
2. Click here for the Web site of the Wikipedia.

 

[Finder]

It's good that the Queen of Canada at least brings up some social historic issues.

 

[FiveParadox]

Representative of the Queen, lol, Finder.

I mentioned the Queen only in passing; the office of the Governor General of Canada has been, more or less, an exclusively Canadian institution for many decades now.