New ebooks From Canadian Indies

9780887809279_cover Enlarge Cover
0 of 5
0 ratings
rated!
rated!
list price: $24.95
edition:eBook
also available: Paperback Hardcover Paperback
category: Social Science
published: Nov 2010
ISBN:9780887809279
publisher: James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers
imprint: Lorimer

The Spirit of Africville

contributions by Donald Clairmont; Stephen Kimber; Bridglal Pachai & Charles Saunders, by Africville Genealogical Society

tagged: african american studies
Description

After many years of denial, the Halifax's city government has finally acknowledged the wrongs that were done to the residents and the community of Africville, and has agreed to make amends for its actions. This extensively illustrated book was prepared by the Africville Genealogy Society and published originally in 1992. Long out of print, it is being republished in a new expanded edition to mark the settlement arrived at this year. The resistance and the protests of former Africville residents have ensured that their experiences were not forgotten or ignored. For more than 150 years, Africville was a community of African Nova Scotian families. In the 1960s, Halifax's city government decided to acquire the land and demolish the houses. Africville was demolished, but the spirit of the community lived on. The Halifax Regional Municipality publically apologized in early 2010 to the former Africville residents and descendants for what they endured. A settlement was made with the Africville Genealogy Society to "commemorate the past and take positive steps for the future." This book tells the story of Africville in words and pictures. This edition includes many never-before-seen colour and black and white photographs of the residents and their community. The text includes an account of the origins of Nova Scotia's Black residents, a history of Africville itself and an account of the events leading up to its demolition. Many key participants in the events of the 1960s offer their reflections on the destruction of the community, highlighting the lessons learned from a decision widely considered to be wrong — even by those who supported and implemented it at the time. An afterword tells of the long but ultimately successful effort to have these wrongs acknowledged and a measure of restitution made.

About the Authors

Donald Clairmont

DONALD CLAIRMONT teaches sociology at Dalhousie University. He is the author of an academic study of the impact of the Africville relocation.

Stephen Kimber is Professor of Journalism at the University of King’s College in Halifax and an award-winning writer, editor and broadcaster. He is the author of nine non-fiction books, including What Lies Across the Water: The Real Story of the Cuban Five.

Bridglal Pachai was born and raised in South Africa and came to Halifax in 1875. One of the foremost authorities on African Nova Scotian history, he has taught at Dalhousie, St. Mary's, and Mount Saint Vincent Universities, and served as executive director of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. He is the author/editor of seventeen books, including Historic Black Nova Scotia.

Charles R. Saunders is the author of Sweat and Soul and Black and Bluenose, among others. He lives in Darmouth, Nova Scotia.

Charles R. Saunders is the author of Sweat and Soul and Black and Bluenose, among others. He lives in Darmouth, Nova Scotia.
Contributor Notes

The contributors of the text include DONALD CLAIRMONT, former professor of sociology at Dalhousie University, journalist and author STEPHEN KIMBER, BRIDGLAL PACHAI, the author of several books on Nova Scotia's black community, and author and journalist CHARLES SAUNDERS. This book is published in cooperation with the Africville Genealogy Society.

Buy this book at:

X
Contacting facebook
Please wait...