Southwestern Ontario council renames Uncle Tom's Road over links to anti-Black racism


June 21, 2022

The name Uncle Tom will soon be gone from a road leading to an important Black historical site near the small southwestern Ontario community of Dresden.

On Monday night, Chatham-Kent council approved the name change, from Uncle Tom's Road to Freedom Road, by an 11-7 vote.

The change was requested by the Ontario Heritage Trust, which maintains the property known as Uncle Tom's Cabin. It points out there are heavy ties between the term Uncle Tom and anti-Black racism.

The term is a slur that many in the Black community find offensive. The Ontario Heritage Trust said times have changed and the name should be a thing of the past.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/winds...road-1.6495645