A Delicious Journey Through Black History
To celebrate Black History Month, I participated in the W.E. Ride and Dine Tour, led by the ever-knowledgeable Irene Moore Davis, a day packed with history, culture, and mouthwatering food!
The tour kicked off exploring exhibits at Art Windsor Essex and Museum Windsor – Chimczuk Museum. It set the perfect tone for the day—deeply moving and incredibly inspiring.
Next stop? The Tower of Freedom monument a few blocks east in Downtown Windsor. Here, Davis shared powerful stories of courage, resilience, and the role Windsor played in helping those escaping slavery find freedom. She also pointed out a fascinating fact—this monument has a sister statue across the river in Detroit! Called the Gateway to Freedom, the Detroit monument faces Windsor, symbolizing the hope and struggle of those who made the journey to Canada in search of a better life.
We made our way to the Paterson Park Black history murals where vibrant images brought prominent Black Canadians back to life.
The history felt even more tangible over at Sandwich First Baptist Church. It served as both a house of worship and a refuge for freedom seekers. It’s one of the only churches from that era that is still standing.
By this point, everyone had worked up an appetite and the food stops did not disappoint!
First up was Stelly’s Cuisine and Catering, which offered a delicious taste of Jamaica. I ordered the jerk chicken poutine—crispy fries smothered in a rich gravy then topped with gooey cheese curds and bite size jerk chicken. It was the perfect fusion of Caribbean and Canadian flavors! To wash it down I grabbed DG, a pineapple soda that packed just the right amount of island sweetness. While we ate, we learned about Black entrepreneurship in Windsor because food and history make the perfect pair.
A little later, at Zuleeats, Ghanaian meat pies stole the show! With each bite, we tasted the deep-rooted African culinary traditions that had made their way to Windsor.
The tour wasn’t just about looking back, it was about celebrating how Black culture continues to shape Windsor today. At the Jackson Park Bandshell, we heard stories of legendary Black musicians and civil rights leaders who once took the stage.
A ride through the McDougall Street Corridor brought us to James L. Dunn Public School and painted a vivid picture of Windsor’s historic Black neighbourhood and the fight for education and equality. Before the journey ended, we visited the Mary Ann Shadd Cary monument, honoring the first Black woman in North America to publish a newspaper. Gazing at her statue, everyone took a moment to appreciate the bold, trailblazing spirit that paved the way for future generations.
One of the most incredible moments of the day came from an unexpected source—our bus driver! As we rode from stop to stop, he casually mentioned that he had once met Rosa Parks. Naturally, we were all amazed. Then to our delight, he pulled out a photo of them together, smiling side by side. Seeing that picture felt like touching history itself. It was a reminder of how recent the civil rights movement really was.
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By the time the bus pulled back into Art Windsor Essex, hearts were full, stomachs were satisfied, and minds were buzzing with new knowledge. The tour wasn’t just a history lesson. It was a celebration, a feast, and a journey through time that left everyone inspired.
But this experience also served as a powerful reminder: Black history isn’t ancient history. Just a few generations ago, Black people in North America were still fighting for the basic rights and freedoms many take for granted today. Tours like this ensure that those struggles and the triumphs that followed are never forgotten.
Click here for more information on this year’s W.E. Ride & Dine – A Windsor Black History and Culinary Bus Tour taking place Saturday February 28th from 10:30am to 2:30pm and read our Guide To Black History In Windsor Essex to learn about other opportunities to highlight our region’s rich Black History this February.
Original Blog Post By Josie Elysia
