Viola desmond will be the first canadian woman to grace the front of a banknote so who was viola desmond. This book please note written by a white man outlines viola desmonds courageous story of defying a jim crowesque law put in place in a nova scotia movie theatre. In 2010, the nova scotia government recognized this gross miscarriage of justice and posthumously granted her. In 2010, however, viola desmond was granted a free pardon by the governor of nova scotia. When she refused to move to the balcony, where black patrons were expected. Viola desmonds canada a history of blacks and racial segregation in the promised land book. From a young age, viola dreamed of having her own business. Winner of the 2017 robbie robertson dartmouth book award for nonfiction. The pardon was the result of the hard work of violas sister, who had advocated for the cause for nearly a decade prior. Graham reynolds is a professor emeritus and the viola desmond chair in social justice at cape breton university.
Graham reynolds book, viola desmonds canada, provides a concise overview of the narrative of the black experience in canada. Shes long been compared to rosa parks, and now late civil rights pioneer viola desmond. Even though she had indicated when she was confronted at the theatre that she was willing to. This book gives a lot of examples of the way racism permeated and attempted to twist the lives of black canadians of successive generations. Viola desmond has been called the rosa parks of canada. In 1946, desmond was arrested for refusing to give up her seat in a whitesonly section of a movie theatre in new glasgow, nova scotia. Viola desmond was a canadian citizen of mixed race, who championed the cause of equal rights for people with dark skin, in early 20th century. A documentary film was made about her, entitled long road to justice. But fewer know the details of viola desmonds life and legacy. In november 1946, hair salon owner viola desmond went to a film at the roseland theatre in new glasgow, nova scotia. Viola desmonds canada is groundbreaking book aimed at providing both general readers and students of canadian history with a concise overview of the narrative of the black experience in canada.
Reynolds traces this narrative from slavery under french and british rule in the eighteenth century to the practice of racial segregation and the fight for racial equality in the twentieth century. Many canadians know that viola desmond is the first black, nonroyal woman to be featured on canadian currency. In 1946, viola desmond was wrongfully arrested for sitting in. Dec 08, 2016 viola desmond will be the first canadian woman to grace the front of a banknote so who was viola desmond. Photographs, letters, posters, and newspaper clippings are used to portray many past injustices and help reynolds reveal a scar upon canadas past that has not completely healed.
Viola desmond is getting a walk of fame star in her hometown halifax. Viola desmonds canada is groundbreaking book aimed at providing both general readers and students of canadian history with a concise overview of the. Feb 01, 2016 cape breton university history professor graham reynolds writes about her in viola desmonds canada. If you havent heard of chic viola desmond, you are about to learn a little about a woman who is a real canadian hero our very own founder, amy nicole hails from canada as well, so we have an extra sweet spot for canadians.
But what began as a night at the movies became a night in prison. The pardon was the result of the hard work of viola s sister, who had advocated for the cause for nearly a decade prior. Nine years before rosa parks refused to give her seat on a bus to a white passenger in. This book please note written by a white man outlines viola desmonds courageous story of defying a jim crowesque law put in place in a. She lived in a time when black women were expected to be servants in houses, and black men were expected to be servants on trains.
Nov 20, 2018 viola desmonds canada is groundbreaking book aimed at providing both general readers and students of canadian history with a concise overview of the narrative of the black experience in canada. Viola desmond wont be budged, book by jody nyasha warner. Viola desmonds canada is a book that provides a concise overview of the narrative of the black experience in canada. Mar 09, 2018 civil rights pioneer viola desmond was selected from the more than 26,000 submissions that rolled in after the bank of canada announced plans to put a canadian woman on the countrys regularly. Her reporting focuses education, race, and public policy. In 2010, sixtyfour years later, the nova scotia government recognized. The miramichi readers best nonfiction book of 2016. Nov 18, 2018 viola desmond is getting a walk of fame star in her hometown halifax. In viola desmonds canada, he writes of the collective amnesia regarding desmonds wrongful arrest for sitting in the whitesonly section of a movie theatre in new glasgow, nova scotia, in 1946 reynolds also considers the origins of slavery in. If you have a question about a communityrun event, please contact the event organizer directly. Jan 27, 20 in 2010, the viola desmond chair in social justice was established at cape breton university, and in 2012, canada post issued a postage stamp bearing her image. Her story has been turned into a heritage minute by historica canada. Nadra kareem nittle is a journalist with bylines in the atlantic, vox, and the new york times.
A history of blacks and racial segregation in the promised land, winner of the 2017 robbie robertson atlantic book award for nonfiction. Unaware that the theatre was segregated, the black nova scotian chose a mainfloor seat. Up until a few years ago, neither did many canadians, reports cbs. In the morning, desmond was taken to court and charged with attempting to defraud the provincial government based on her alleged refusal to pay a onecent amusement tax i. Aug 01, 2018 meet viola desmond, community leader and early civil rights trailblazer. Desmond was also the subject of a childrens book viola desmond wont be budged by jody nyasha warner.
We recognize today that the act for which viola desmond was arrested, was an act of courage, not an offence. Viola desmond, black woman who spurred end of segregation in. Accessible, concise and timely, this book tells the incredible, important story of viola desmond, considered by many to be canadas rosa parks. The 82nd heritage minute in historica canadas collection. For more information about viola desmond visit the canadian encyclopedia. Her father was black and her mother was white, which was not very common in canada in those days. Robson said her granddaughter has shown a longtime. Viola desmond book ottawa public library bibliocommons. Viola desmond, canadian who fought segregation, to appear on. Viola desmond s canada is a groundbreaking book that provides a concise overview of the narrative of the black experience in canada. A history of blacks and racial segregation in the promised land by the same author. Finalist for the 2011 norma fleck award for canadian childrens nonfiction on behalf of the nova scotia government, i sincerely apologize to mrs.
The video features kandyse mcclure as viola desmond. In 1946, viola desmond was wrongfully arrested for sitting in a whitesonly section of a movie theatre in new glasgow, nova scotia. Viola desmonds fight for change is not history the walrus. Viola desmond was an african canadian woman from nova scotia. On the night of november 8th 1946, nova scotia businesswoman viola desmond stood up for her right to be in the unofficial whitesonly section of a new glasgow movie theatre. Viola desmond biography facts, childhood, family life of. Viola desmond, black woman who spurred end of segregation. Viola desmond, black canadian civilrights pioneer arts. In nova scotia, in 1946, an usher in a movie theatre told viola desmond to move from her main floor seat up to the balcony. He is the author with wanda robson of viola desmonds canada. Feb 05, 2016 viola desmond has been called the rosa parks of canada. Cape breton university history professor graham reynolds writes about her in viola desmonds canada. The story of viola desmond, canadas rosa parks cbs news. A heritage minute relating desmonds story was released during black history month, in february 2016.
On the subject of race, canadians seem to exhibit a form of collective amnesia. The strongest point of the book is the narrative history provided by wanda robson of her sister, viola desmond, who refused to cede her seat at the segregated rosemont theatre in new glasgow in 1946. On february 2, 2016, historica canada featured desmond in a heritage minute, filmed in high river, alberta, in june 2015. Though canada had no laws that segregated the black people from the white, it was a norm for the blacks. Her life and times looks beyond the theatre incident is the first authoritative biography of. Viola desmond, in full viola irene desmond, nee davis, born july 6, 1914, halifax, nova scotia, canada died february 7, 1965, new york, new york, u. People think canada is a racial paradise, but ask any person of colour and theyll say otherwise. Meet viola desmond, community leader and early civil rights trailblazer. Viola desmond, canadian who fought segregation, to appear. In 1946, a black halifax businesswoman, viola desmond, was wrongfully arrested for sitting in a whitesonly section of a movie theatre in new glasgow, nova scotia. The late violas sister wanda robson was instrumental in getting violas story told and having her supposed crime of sitting in the wrong theatre seat pardoned in 2010 by the government of nova scotia. Darrell dexter, premier of nova scotia, april 15, 2010. Her sister, wanda robson, wrote a book about activism in her family and her experiences with her sister, titled sister to courage.
Shortlisted, hackmatack childrens choice award atlantic canada, 2019. Viola desmonds canada is a groundbreaking book that provides a concise overview of the narrative of the black experience in canada. Viola desmonds family and to all african nova scotians for the racial discrimination she was subjected to by the justice system. The book traces this narrative from slavery under french and british rule in the eighteenth century to the practice of racial segregation and the fight. A history of blacks and racial segregation in the promised land paperback 4. Viola grew up with parents who were active in the black community in halifax, nova scotia, despite the fact that her mother was european. Desmond played a seminal role in canada s civil rights movement when, on nov. Author graham reynolds is a professor emeritus and the viola desmond chair in social justice at cape breton university.
Viola desmonds canada book hamilton public library. Civil rights pioneer viola desmond was selected from the more than 26,000 submissions that rolled in after the bank of canada announced plans to put a canadian woman on the countrys regularly. The story of viola desmond, an entrepreneur who challenged segregation in nova scotia in the 1940s. The miramichi readers best nonfiction book of 2016in 1946, viola desmond was. The miramichi readers best nonfiction book of 2016 in 1946, viola desmond was wrongfully arrested for sitting in a whitesonly section of a movie theatre in new glasgow, nova scotia.
Let viola desmond herald a new politicianfree era of cash commemoration. A history of blacks and racial segregation in the promised land. Civil rights pioneer viola desmond is first canadian woman. Viola desmonds canada is a groundbreaking book that provides a concise. Civil rights pioneer viola desmond is first canadian woman on. Today, viola desmond has become a national civil rights icon, and a symbol of courage in the face of injustice. Graham reynolds has written a telling book which should be on school curriculums across canada. The strikingly colorful acrylic illustrations by canadian illustrator richard rudnicki add significantly to the story. A presentation and discussion by graham reynolds cape breton please note that this list includes both governmentrun events and communityrun events. The miramichi readers best nonfiction book of 2016 in 1946, viola desmond was wrongfully arrested for sitting in a whitesonly section of a movie theatre in new glasgow. Viola desmonds canada book halifax public libraries. Biography of canadian civil rights icon viola desmond.
824 1139 1021 539 847 269 899 108 1115 1091 1182 498 907 1306 359 636 1080 507 707 1406 839 1132 276 526 995 252 630 1294 356 163 687 783 230 149 226 160 792 969 499 707 332 1007 737 1009