Caitlin Saintfort.
Halifax, Nova Scotia - In January of 1970, the last remaining Africville home was destroyed. If you’ve never heard of Africville, you’re not the only one; the tragic tale of this small community has not been as widely known as it should be. Over 400 residents were forced from their homes and ripped away from all the memories they had once known, solely on account of one factor: the colour of their skin.
Along the waters of Bedford Basin, Africville, formerly known as the Campbell Road Settlement, was founded by Black Nova Scotians. The majority were former enslaved people of African descent freed by the Crown during the American Revolutionary War and War of 1812. As a result, a permanent settlement was established in the 1840s. Initially, Africville was a small, poor, isolated rural community of about 50 people, but over time, it grew to include hundreds of families and individuals. There were stores, a school, a post office, and the Seaview United Baptist Church, the social and spiritual center of Africville. (Footage of Africville houses, 1960. )
“You weren’t isolated at any time living in Africville. You always felt at home; the doors were always open. That is one of the most important things that has stayed with me throughout my life”, said Irvine Carvery, former Africville resident.
Unfortunately, by the mid-1960s increasing poverty and discrimination posed many challenges to the people of Africville. The City of Halifax refused to provide essential services that other residents enjoyed, such as sewage, access to clean running water, streetlights, public transportation, paved roads and garbage disposal. Instead, the city located its most undesirable facilities in the area, as the Black community had little political power and property values were low. A prison, an infectious disease hospital, a slaughterhouse, and a depository for feces were all built.
Residents of Africaville, who paid taxes and cared for their homes, asked the City to provide basic services repeatedly, but no action was taken. As a result, residents suffered serious health consequences. In fact, it was so common for the wells to be contaminated that residents were required to boil their water before drinking or cooking with it. (Footage of Boys beside Canadian National railcar, with "Please boil this water before drinking and cooking" sign, 1964.
From 1964 to 1967, instead of ensuring justice for the community, the City of Halifax began forcing the residents of Africville to relocate and demolish their homes. City officials claimed that the development of industry and infrastructure was their goal. Human rights were also brought up, arguing that relocation would improve the quality of life for residents, despite the opposition all residents had expressed. More than 400 citizens of Africville and their belongings were taken away in garbage trucks. The houses and all community buildings were also demolished, including the spiritual heart of the community, Seaview United Baptist Church. The last Africville resident, Aaron Carvery, left his home on January 2, 1970.
Many residents found it difficult to adjust to their new lives. The cost of living went up, and Black workers were unable to find employment, causing more to fall into poverty. Additionally, schools were denying Black students, and racism was a daily occurrence in the new neighbourhoods. White neighbours would begin petitions to reject Black families, and a man even received threats to burn down his house if he and his family remained in the new neighbourhood of Hammond Plains. It was signed “from the white people of Hammond Plains.”
After years of unrelenting suffering, the Africville Genealogy Society was formed and sought to receive compensation for all the losses caused by the destruction of the community in the 1980s. Halifax's mayor finally apologized publicly in 2010 after reaching a settlement, and part of the settlement was used to rebuild the Seaview Church, which now operates as the Africville Museum. The new Seaview African United Baptist Church opened in September 2011. (The replica of Africville’s Seaview United Baptist Church. Now a Museum.)
The site where Africville stood is now a park, and every summer, former residents of Africville, as well as their descendants, hold a reunion there. Meanwhile, right across the land is the Africville Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of a proud community determined to overcome injustice and maintain its identity.
The destruction of Africville had a much greater impact than one might think. The relocation of Africville meant the death of a vibrant community accompanied by grief, loss and outrage. Miller explained it perfectly: “When people of Africville were living together, they were self‐sufficient. They might not have had a lot of money, but they weren’t on government assistance. They were trying to create a community that the government wasn’t willing for them to have. When they took them off this land and forced them to be a ward of the government, you took their dignity from them.”
Another old resident, Laura Howe added: “Living in Africville, might not have been a mansion, but it was a home.”
Many Canadians are unaware of Africville's history. It is important to remember, educate and address the terrible events that took place, discrimination and expulsion. Seeing this story serves as a powerful reminder of how human rights language can often be misused to benefit human rights violations. We also see the issues and consequences of racism and discrimination in our country. In closing, we can learn from this story that all voices need to be heard in our community, only then can all Canadians thrive together.