Story of Africville - To my Grandchildren
Storyboard Text
- Slide: 1
- At this point, the city was growing impatient as it was taking a long time to drive the residents out of Africville, so they demolished the church in the spring of 1967 in the middle of the night while the remaining residents were asleep; this was seen as the “death knell” for the community, so the remainig residents took what deals they could and left Africville. In 1969, the final property in Africville was taken by the city and demolished.
- Slide: 2
- Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, etc
- Halifax
- Homes replaced with private housing, ramps to highways
- In debt for 1st time
- No Jobs: Racism in hiring system
- Forced to rely on welfare
- No communal spaces- lack of social support
- Large dog park called "Seaview Park
- For the first time in their lives, former residents of Africville were in debt because jobs were hard to find because of racism, and there was a lack of churches or communal spaces, so displaced residents drifted apart and did not have social supports (some moved to Toronto, Montreal, and Winnipeg).
- Many who stayed in Halifax were forced to turn to welfare to cover the high costs of living in the city. Africville, which used to be a safe, peaceful home, was turned into private housing, ramps to local highways, and a large dog park called “Seaview Park”, and the dump was removed.
- Slide: 3
- Looking Back:The Legacy of Africville Why Compensation is important
- Now that you know the story of Africville and what I, a former resident who was evicted from my home at 14 years old before entering high school went through, it is evident that a mere verbal apology was not enough at all and that compensation for the lost homes, the environmental racism, unfair treatment, and forced relocation is important!
- Legacy: From 1969 onwards, former residents of Africville began holding reunions, picnics, church services, and weekend gatherings on the site of Africville, and the descendants continue to hold summer reunions in the park. The church museum began holding Christmas services in 2012. Halifax apologized for the removal of Black people from Africville in 2010 on February 24th, but they did not apologize for the racism and neglect, or harsh treatment across the years. All they used were words to compensate after many years; no money or land was given as compensation for all the suffering and racism the residents faced.
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