Up Home Analysis

After reading Up Home, I believe it better resonates with the narrative of Canadian identity that was presented in The Loyal Refugees. Specifically, Up Home relates to the experiences of the Black Loyalists who fled to Nova Scotia in 1783. In The Loyal Refugees, it notes that some of the black Loyalists did not receive the promises that they hoped they would get when coming to North America (78). They had expectations of a better life but those were not delivered. This is mentioned in Up Home, as Grant recalls her Nana’s stories about people who worked hard to survive despite the barren lands (2008). The idea of turning to the community for support in places like the church was mentioned in The Loyal Refugees (78). The church was viewed as
A similar image, albeit in colour is displayed on a page in Up Home when Grant’s Nana is explaining the history of the Maroons, Loyalists,and Refugees (2008). Lastly, in The Loyal Refugees it is mentioned that many of the black Loyalists who remained in Canada became productive citizens and that they took on different trades and skills (80). They adapted to this new life and found ways to be successful. This is demonstrated in Up Home as Grant recalls people including herself picking blueberries (2008). The examples above demonstrate various ways in which the narrative of Canadian identity presented in The Loyal Refugees resonates with that in Up Home. However, I believe the most meaningful resonation is perhaps the simplest one. The word loyal, in the title The Loyal refugees stood out to me. When I hear the word loyal, I think of someone who is committed and won’t leave. This sentiment was expressed on the last page of Up Home as Grant says that you can take me out of Preston but you can’t shake Preston out of me, because Preston is my home (2008). Grant has a connection to Preston, the place where she grew up and this connection is something that cannot be