Growing up in Toronto we all thought of Nova Scotia as Canada’s Black Mecca. My parents, like so many others, were Black immigrants born either in Africa or the Caribbean. They moved to Canada during the first Trudeau era—moving to Canada’s largest city promised economic prosperity, safety and inclusion. However, our elders had no idea what was in store for future generations. Having “weird” accents and “funny” names meant we were never accepted into Canadian society because we came from cultures that spoke different languages. Our parents’ advice was to get a quality education, be polite and work hard, but after years of being unfairly put in special education, denied employment opportunities and being street checked countless times, we realized that no matter what we did we would never be accepted as “old stock” Canadians.
We felt the racism we endured in Toronto was because we were “new” Canadians, therefore the Indigenous Blacks of Nova Scotia would be treated with dignity and respect. We figured, since Blacks inhabited that province for over 400 years, fought alongside the British in the American revolutionary war and the War of 1812, and fought bravely in the first and second World Wars, not only would they have respect, but a social and economic infrastructure that would reflect their contribution to Canadian society. When I left Toronto for Halifax eight years ago, my family was truly proud, proclaiming I was moving to Canada’s Black Mecca. Slightly jealous, they said I wouldn’t have to endure racial injustice, gentrification or police harassment any longer. On the long drive to Atlantic Canada, I daydreamed of Black economic prosperity comparable to Atlanta, or even Chicago; it didn’t take long to wake up to reality.
The same problems that children of African and Caribbean immigrants faced in Toronto were experienced by families that have been in Halifax for centuries. I’ve seen a police department blatantly enforce street checks on Black citizens at a horrific rate. I’ve seen Blacks have difficulty hailing cabs because of the colour of their skin. I’ve seen large employers face civil lawsuits for their treatment of Black employees. Most disheartening of all, I’ve seen an education system that filters young Black learners into special education, causing a schools-to-prison pipeline.
Feeling an obligation to help my African Nova Scotian brethren, I joined 902ManUp, a group dedicated to empowering Black youth through education, justice, employment and health. It was through this community work that I saw the real reason why Blacks in Nova Scotia are so marginalized. We sat in meetings with HRM staff and advocated for employment strategies that would directly help youth in Black communities, but were dismissed without any thought. Asking for a moratorium on street checks was categorized as an unreasonable request. We were turned down by both municipal and provincial politicians for help with small donations for community events, only to see them show up to eat the cake we served. We helped organize wholesome community gatherings, only to see local media show up and ask about violence.
From education to employment, government and media, Halifax has a blatant culture of systemic racism. In Toronto, the racism we endured was more sophisticated and subliminal. In Nova Scotia, it’s brazen. It’s there every morning to greet you and remind you in its own little way that even if your ancestors re-built Citadel Hill or died fighting in the fields of Normandy, you are Black and Black doesn’t count. Halifax is not Black Mecca. It’s the Mississippi of the North.
â¨Opinionated is a rotating column by Halifax writers featured regularly in The Coast. The views published are those of the author.
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This article appears in Nov 1-7, 2018.
Maritimers are the nicest racists you will ever meet. For the record, I am Caucasian and have observed the systemic racism of our culture for 50 years. People are ignorant and racist, but most of then cannot help it because they were born into the system and have never left the boundaries of their province unless it was a school trip or maybe they have been to Cuba or the DR so they could enjoy being served.
“Most disheartening of all, Ive seen an education system that filters young Black learners into special education, causing a schools-to-prison pipeline.”
Problematic statement. Please do not contribute to the stigma against those utilizing special education to assist learning.
I’m surprised people don’t know any of that information.
I recently moved to Toronto and people were surprised to hear about racism incident in NS!
One of the main reasons I left Halifax was because I had enough after 23 years! I figured I’d try a different city. I tried Edmonton years ago and it wasn’t much better. In fact it was full of the same people!
I do agree with Tim McLay though. I feel sorry for them because they’re born into it. It’s the culture and what they’re taught as children. For the most part. Not all are like that but sadly a large majority is. I’ve witnesses it first hand where parents pull their kids away in a park when new children from a different culture start playing with them.
For this to change, the culture has to change. Unfortunately I don’t believe it ever will. Not because they can’t, because they refuse to.
I grew up in Dartmouth as a chinese guy. The segregation is real. Preston is right next to Dartmouh or Cole Harbour home of Sidney Crosby. I had my experiences of racism but nothing like the black/white divide. Why is this such a secret or never in mainstream media?
The Racism in Nova Scotia and all across Canada is still there but it is well hidden by many people all across the Province. Many times they will keep one African Nova Scotian person around just to say that they are not prejudice.
The system that I find the worst is the Education System who hires causian teachers to teach
African Studies when usually they don’t even know what they are talking about let on teaching the subject properly to students.
The Justice system treat African Nova Scotians with an iron fist, while causians walk away with a slap on the wrist and love being before the courts as to the causians it is a joke for them so why not do what you want.
This list could go on and on in all the systems here in the province. We all have faced the full force of racial discrimination here.
It would be nice to have another BUF who could oversee all these problems here in Nova Scotia as we have to endure racial slurs everytime we step outside of our homes and it is very painful and cuts you deeply and your black children who wonder why do we have to suffer such pain?
Praying someday that things will get better but I highly doubt that I will see it in my lifetime as I am an Elder now.
I love nova Scotia ,HOWEVER I totally agree with this article. We seem to be back in colonial days especially if you reach out past Halifax regional area. Being that it is 2018 ,soon to be 2019 to me this seems just down right un-acceptable. People just trying to be who they are in a Trump leading society(halifax/dartmouth)
Side note- maybe switch up the minority on city council
Worldwide white supremacy is problematic worldwide. Ignorance is no excuse. To be born in a system of white privilege and oppression of darker skinned people, is no excuse for the continuation of these practices and to practice them yourself. The African in Canada came there voluntarily or to escape worse oppression from Europeans elsewhere. We have worked to as-simulate into eurocentric societies throughout North America and we are still oppressed. North America has been built by the blood and sweat of our ancestors. Where these shores have a welcome sign out for Eastern European and other white skinned immigrants that enjoy the foundations that our ancestors died building. When they get here the first thing they learn is to disrespect the black man and woman.
I am white from Halifax and left when I was 18. The racism is both normalized and appalling. I am resisting telling stories here, but where else in Canada can you be followed home by your white classmates who throw glass bottles at you from their father’s Jeep screaming “Ni**er Lover!”? Imagine what they did to Black people! And no one blinks an eye. My white friend’s family had a cross burned on their lawn for being Quakers. Imagine what the KKK in Nova Scotia does to Black people! The Halifax school system segregated by address in the 1980’s. I know because I was put in a Black math class, then sent to the office and changed to a white math class where the kids lived in the white neighbourhoods. And these disgraces are not called out. Black people are expected to be not seen and not heard unless they are fixing the road, or the garden. They might not even be welcome serving you food, or being your caregiver. IT’S THAT BAD.
Id have to agree unfortunately, systematic racism is real on the east coast, and the bigots will let you know. Being caucasian however raised in a diverse community, I was lucky enough to be educated/raised by progressive teachers and parents. Something has terribly crashed since the Harpers Days and I Honestly blame Neo-liberalism running rampant in our society. Our Multi-cultural festival used to be one of the biggest events of the summer, and it seems to have fizzled out to samosa’s, free bubbles and a whack sound system.
Andy Filmore has put more money in his pocket than any other Provincial MP, and subsidized gargantuan condo buildings, gentrifying nearly every last inch of what’s left of Halifax black history. Now I don’t like to point fingers but I can surely read through the fine print…