AFRICVILLE A SPIRIT THAT LIVES ON

971. 6225 s 19a9 I REFCOLL I

ARCHIVES I Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives Ruth Johnson Church Scene, Africville 1949

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives q· 1 / . b d)s c::

li Preface ('"i' .'Z- ~

Every July, hundreds of former Africville residents and permanent display at the Black Cultural Centre in ashamed from whence you have come. When people their children come from all parts of Canada and the Westphal, Dartmouth. ask you where you were born and where were your United States to the Africville Reunion on the shores of The exhibition uses the past as a message for the forefathers, tell them: We were born in Africville! We Bedford Basin, the site of Africville. They come to get future. The artifacts, contemporary and historical are proud of Africville!" Through their collaboration in re-acquainted, to reminisce, to re-establish themselves audiovisual material, photographs, memorabilia and this exhibition, the former residents of Africville can as a community. While the place called Africville no documentation - much of it, such as Ruth Johnson's surely tell all of us. longer exists, its spirit continues in the unity of powerful linocuts of 40 years ago, only recently come Is there a lesson to be learned from the experience of Africville people. to light - show the human drama of a beleaguered this community, which, though physically destroyed in Africville: A Spirit that Lives On is the result of a community which made a richly varied and self­ the 1960s, is spiritually alive to-day? The people of collaboration of the Art Gallery, Mount Saint Vincent sufficient life for itself. Africville show us that once it is achieved, community University; the Africvlle Genealogy Society; the Black In the 1950s and 1960s, two otherwise disparate endures to enrich succeeding generations and all who Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia and the National Film movements - civil rights and city planning - witness its spirit. Board, Atlantic Centre. Funded by grants from the embraced the "urban renewal" which brought about Africville Exhibition Steering Committee: Museums Assistance Programs of the Federal Africville's demise. The policy of relocation, Irvine Carvery, Africville Genealogy Society Department of Communications, with assistance from formulated with virtually no participation from Dr. Bridglal Pachai and Henry Bishop, Black Cultural the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism and Culture, Africville residents, stands as a caution to other Centre for Nova Scotia the exhibition marks the first time that those who lived communities. The experience helped shape the Shelagh Mackenzie, the National Film Board, Atlantic in Africville can share with a wider community their response in neighbouring Dartmouth, as black residents Centre memories and concerns. faced with the prospect of similar development Mary Sparling, Art Gallery, Mount Saint Vincent Opening at the Art Gallery, Mount Saint Vincent schemes, affirmed: "There'll be no more Africvilles!" University University, in October 1989, the exhibition tours At the 1988 Africville Reunion, Reverend Donald nationally from July 1990 to December 1992, after Skeir, a former Africville pastor, urged, "Residents, which it will return to Nova Scotia and be on descendants of Africville, lift your heads high. Don't be

HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY CORPORATE LIBR,l'.).RY

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives

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971.6225

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

field field

Stephen Stephen

future future

dedication dedication

of of

Chuck Chuck

helped helped

Earl Earl documentation. documentation.

Secretary Secretary

ordinator ordinator

Sylvia Sylvia

a a of of

Mary Mary Stevenson Stevenson

Glenda Glenda

archives archives

unstinting unstinting Clairmont Clairmont

Professor Professor Gerald Gerald

S

Canadian Canadian

"the "the

Africville Africville

materials. materials. Stephen Stephen Rhonda Rhonda

1989,

Conrad Conrad

workers workers

Sparling Sparling

publication. publication.

Hamilton, Hamilton,

Clark Clark

us us

hired hired

Clarke Clarke Redden, Redden,

Africville:

Osler Osler

for for

of of

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Black Black

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be a bird in the sky. Archie Dixon played the saxophone and clarinet. We had guitar players, fiddlers, and drummers, too. Some folks even made their own instruments. Flutes carved from a tree branch, spoons, washboards - anything and everything! We had people who could sing some, too. You could get a whole concert gain' at the drop of a hat. Why, we even had some of our people study at the Halifax Conservatory of Music. Ruth Johnson - her name was Brown then - went there. So did Jessie Kane. And Ida Mae Thomas went down to Chicago and ended up playin' the organ for the biggest coloured church in the city. Now, everybody wants to be Little Richard. That's him on the radio now. They sure don't teach that kind of music at the Conservatory. You can have a good time to it, though. Yes, indeed. Maybe we'll pay a visit up to Big Town on our way back. Bound to be somethin' gain' on. For now, though, let's just keep gain' up The Road. Look over toward the water. See the big field there? We call that Kildare's Field. It's a good place for picnics. It's also a good place to go swimmin'. Look at those kids divin' off that big rock out in the water. They've probably been there since sunrise. And they'll still be there when the sun goes down. This field's got some history. Used to be a bone mill there. A lot of our people worked in it, makin' fertilizer. Then the mill shut down, and you can see what's left. Tell you somethin' else. Gypsies come to Kildare's Field every year. They pull up their wagons and stay for about a week or so, tellin' fortunes and all. Some Mamas try to keep their kids away by sayin' Gypsies steal children. But have you ever seen a black Gypsy? Think about it. Maybe they only steal white folks' kids. Or maybe they don't steal kids at all, and it's just another story like the ones people make up about us. You can see The Road slant downhill now. If you look up toward Big Town, you can't see the houses " ... Pullman Porters ... they'd come home in their uniforms with the shiny brass buttons and they'd be like heroes comin' back from a anymore. Those three tracks are almost like The High war." Left to right, in front of the train used for the 1939 Royal Tour: John Pannell, Tom MacDonald, Henry Lawrence, Track - up on a slope. This whole area's like a big J. H. Franklin and George Dixon. scoop leading to the Basin. Photo courtesy of Ruth Johnson

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives 6 on

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· Africville: 1989, S 971.6225 of Copy Big Town and Up The Road. Now, take a look in the other direction. See those houses peekin' out from behind those woods? That's Round The Bend, the third part of Africville. We'll be goin' there shortly. But there's still more to see right here. We're gonna be delayed anyhow. Here comes a train. Lord, that noise is terrible! Sounds like an avalanche thunderin' right past you. There's Dick Killum's house. Look past it, and you'll see a level field. We call it The Southwestern. It's a sports field, mostly. There's some buddies out there now playin' soft-ball. We play horseshoes there, too. In the wintertime, the whole thing freezes over, and you can play hockey on it. You ever hear of the Africville Brown Bombers? The team Gordon Jemmott coached? That's where they practiced. Back in the old days, the Basin used to freeze over, and they played hockey out there. Imagine playin' hockey on part of the Atlantic Ocean! Can't do that nowadays. Winters ain't what they used to be. Nothin' is. Fellas here play hockey just for the fun of it. Ain't lookin' to get in the NHL. NHL ain't ready for no Jackie Robinson yet, so they say. Every now and then, though, somebody gets ideas. Once there was this boy who wanted to be a goalie. He'd be out there on the Southwestern every day, stoppin' rubber balls and "The young ones get to eat all the eggs they want. That's probably what they been thinkin' about all day, anyhow." Sunday School, whatever else kids used instead of pucks. Seaview African Baptist Church, Easter, 1961. Well, one day his cousins get hold of a real puck. Photo courtesy or Ray and Evelyn Lawrence They start shootin' it around, practicin' that newfangled rifle shot. Buddy figures he was gonna stop that puck could hold your own with the other kids. remember Laylia Grant and Verna Davis, too. And just like he stopped all those rubber balls. So he sticks There were some good teachers at that school. Portia White taught in our school for a while. Can't his leg out, with nothin' on it but his pants. Everybody down here remembers old Mr. Jemmott. that woman sing! But she could teach, too. No doubt KA-RACKKK! Could be even his wife didn't know his first name; he about that. You could hear the sound all the way over in Big was just "Mister Jemmott." He was from the West Well, the school's gone now. Can't do nothin' about Town. And that's one boy who didn't play no more '1 Indies. That man taught for twenty-five straight years it. Let's keep goin'. goal that day. without missin' a single day. His son, Gordon, ended There's our old friends the triple tracks. Remember Train's gone at last. Let's cross the field and go up bein' the principal, and Gordon was just as strict as how they were risin' up? Well, now they're level with behind that little hill. There's more houses back that his old man. us again. We're gonna stop at this bend here. Take a way. We're still Up The Road, understand. This is just Those black teachers did us proud. John Brown was look all around you. Right here is where you can see all a different neighbourhood. the first one. Then there were other Jemmotts: Clyde of Africville - the whole layout. Hold it. Got to throw this ball back. Catch it next and Clarice. Teachin' sure ran in that family. People Look back where we came from, and you can see time, Cousin! Yeah, right! In your dreams!

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives IO Mr. Gerald Jemmott. "That man taught for twenty-five straight " ... the school's gone now. Can't do nothin' about it." Children play near the foundation of the demolished school while the city dump years without missin' a single day." smoulders in the background. Photo courtesy of Rossie Dixon Photo courtesy of The Halifax Herald Limited

Those boys wouldn't be so smart if they remembered down now. But you know what? They could still come Now we're at a bigger hill. We call this one Uncle how good the girls' teams were back in the 40s. The down here and send those boys runnin' to their Laffy's Hill. That's where kids ride their sleds in the Africville Ladies' Softball Club, that's what they called Mommas. winter. it. White blouses, black skirts, and a winnin' attitude. There's Aunt Tillie Newman's house. Her daughter Best time to go down that hill is late at night when Gordon Jemmott coached them. They used to play all Ivory Marsman lives right next door. You can see more the moon's out. Seems like it takes forever before your over the Province - Stellarton, New Glasgow, places houses in a line going toward the water. First there's the Momma and Poppa go to sleep. Half the fun is sneakin' like that. One year, they took the Provincial old Gannon place. Minky Carvery lives there now. out the door with your sled, or piece of cardboard, or championship. Pauline Dixon and Dora Dixon have the next two whatever you want to use. The three Brown girls were on that team - houses. When the moon's full or close to it, you might as Lucinda, Jessie, and Ruth. There was Wilhemina and See that shed? That's Uncle John's card room. The well be in daylight. It's like the world's turned into one Alma Dixon, Amy Carvery, Stella Dixon, and Evelyn men go there when they want to play some serious big black-and-white snapshot. And the kids are part of Jemmott, too. Those ladies are all married and settled cards. You don't get cut an inch of slack in that shed! the picture.

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o~'< Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives r 11-C~

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Map of Africville, 1964 City ofHalifax, Works Department Courtesy or the Map/ Architectural Plan Division, Public Archives or Nova Scotia

181 N.S.L&P. towers A Kildare's Field B Joe and Retha Skinner c Tibby's Pond .- D Tibby Alcock ~ft ,,,, ..., , ...... / E Deacon Ralph Jones F Up The Road G Back The Field Oo 0 H Post Office F 0 () J CurleyVemb (::} K Pooh Izzard oQ M Seaview African United Baptist Church g[[J DD N School 0 \\ 0 Dick Killum p Tillie Newman FACTOR'< Q Albert 'Whoppie' Sparks R City Dump s Round The Bend 0 c::i T Aaron 'Pa' Carvery u Rossie Dixon v Reggie and Stella Carvery

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives

someplace someplace

come come

Thanks. Thanks.

are are

be, be,

down down

Uncle Uncle

Southwestern. Southwestern. You You

the the

Grand Grand

lives lives

Southwestern Southwestern

Street? Street? Your Your

the the

Now, Now,

Sparks Sparks

Whoppie's Whoppie's

we'll we'll

want want Dixons also also

track. track.

Dixons, Dixons,

we we

flashin' flashin'

kind kind

through through

crust crust

Emma Emma

you you

Africville Africville

neighbourhood. neighbourhood.

WHOOOSH! WHOOOSH!

Now Now

You You

Want Want

You You

How How

We We

We We

Well, Well,

crossed crossed

right? right?

other other

trees? trees?

horseshoe horseshoe

don't don't

find find

say say

of of

up up

take take

of of

nose nose

to to

here here

look look

Another Another

that that

Bully's, Bully's,

get get

could could

Tour Tour

. .

say say

is is

can can

lives lives

More More

ghost. ghost.

past past

ice ice

see see

we're we're

you you

on on

Howes, Howes,

the the

there's there's

Naw, Naw,

it it

to to

Leon Leon

a a

side side

That's That's

Don't Don't

turns turns

a a

make make

up up

sure sure

is is

way. way.

the the

else

Carvery. Carvery.

you're you're

way way

show show

on on

store store

Uncle Uncle

see see it it

Round Round

different different

trees trees

before before

of of

there. there.

doin', doin',

wrinklin' wrinklin'

climb climb

when when

to to

folks folks

of of

curve curve

following following

before before

you you

first first

top top

can't can't

. .

and and

Down Down

the the

Africville. Africville.

Paris Paris

ain't ain't

into into

more more

a a That's

the the

So So

up. up.

get get

any any

what what

the the

and and Leon Leon

and and

you you

and and

Laffy's Laffy's

gettin' gettin'

of of

He He

Paris Paris

Whoppie? Whoppie? know. know.

live live

time. time.

Emma Emma

up up

The The

you you

does does

we we

top top

There's There's

smart. smart.

stay stay

a a

hill hill

wintertime wintertime

over over

noise, noise,

family's family's

way. way.

Carverys Carverys

it, it,

get get

we we

Carverys Carverys

between between

a a

speeded-up speeded-up

we we

people people

runs runs

came came

to to

already, already,

first first

along along

couple couple

you you

of of

can can

Bend Bend

and and

sure sure

house house

the the

Lee Lee

too too

See See

go go

some some

thirsty? thirsty?

the the

there? there?

Hill Hill

go! go!

More More

the the

We We

Steed Steed

We We

either

a a

came came

the the

get get

Round Round

zoom zoom

curve curve

from from

head head

long. long.

top top

you you

Carvery. Carvery.

penny penny

sign sign

the the

up up

always always

When When

before before

these these

hill hill

Can Can

there, there,

can can

pop pop

at at

the the

more more

can can

like like

around around

a a

High High

to to

now. now.

Roy Roy

there, there,

of of

. .

in in

Let's Let's

road road

later, later,

good good

the the

down down

we're we're

back back

You You

the the

......

movie, movie,

We're We're

of of

down down

houses houses

it it

just just

we we

always always

before before

the the

that that

days. days.

The The

it it

store. store.

the the

than than

it it

houses houses

too. too.

the the

say say Mantley Mantley

bottom bottom

Track. Track.

then then

wants wants

Tell Tell

West West

What's What's

that that

get get

head head

gets gets

go go

and and

skirt skirt

Whoppie. Whoppie.

look look

here here

hill, hill,

to to

gettin' gettin'

Barrington Barrington

snow's snow's

Bend. Bend.

triple triple

so so

when when

takin' takin'

Whoppie Whoppie

And And

everything everything

there there

There's There's

zippin' zippin'

like like

The The

two two

you you

we we

go go

follows follows

dark. dark.

there's there's

Indies; Indies;

but but

fast fast

to to

around around

than than

to to

at at

past past

Remember Remember

of of

back back

go go

lives lives

that? that?

some some

who who

You You

Cokes? Cokes?

tracks. tracks. it. it.

Copy

you'll you'll

close close

be be

they they

seems seems

the the

you you

got got

the the

The The

on. on.

So So

there there

And And

more more

the the

to to

see see

a a hill. hill.

of

to to

to to to to

971.6225

scratch scratch

couple couple

lookin' lookin' "Africmobile." "Africmobile."

back? back? Somebody Somebody

good good

give give

because because

you're you're tin tin with with

there there

But But

the the

been been

and and

it. it. other other

mean mean

who who

Carvery

Photo Photo In In

S

front front

So So

Looks Looks

Car Car Well, Well,

1989,

-

dump, dump,

it's it's

courtesy courtesy

die. die.

us us

can can

us. us.

here here

stuff stuff

that that

we we

trade. trade.

you you

all all

Naw. Naw.

doin', doin',

parts

, ,

of of

of of

a a

not not

and and

wreck wreck

Earl Earl

somebody somebody

Or Or Or Or

Africville:

when when

get get

friggin' friggin'

try try

Albert Albert

of of

like like

buddies buddies

you you

of of

a a

can't can't

from from

over over

all all

out out

Ray Ray

. .

us us

few few

drove drove

it's it's you you

They They

Carvery, Carvery,

If If

to to

parts parts

That's That's

you you

a a

bad. bad.

in in

can can

it it

with with

and and

bad bad

make make

there there

'Whoppie' 'Whoppie'

worth worth

mountain mountain

on on

use use

bad bad

years, years,

can can

didn't didn't

garbage garbage the the

A

understand. understand.

Evelyn Evelyn

call call

off off

put put

it it collect collect

Spirit

the the

times times

There's There's

throws throws

it. it.

another another

it. it.

Doris Doris

to to

stuff

keep keep

world world

now now

the the

the the

it it somethin'. somethin'.

together together

They They

and and

Lawrence Lawrence

water water

Winnipeg! Winnipeg! fall fall

that

"salvaging." "salvaging."

. .

hit hit

dump dump

Sparks' Sparks'

dump dump

dump! dump!

Dixon Dixon

and and

of of

on on

You You

could could

14 14

apart, apart,

something something

already already

run run all all

Lives

one. one.

take take

you, you,

trash trash

side. side.

gain' gain'

There's There's

sell. sell.

kinds kinds

got got

a a

like like

and and

work work

and and

store. store.

be be

whole whole

our our We We

On,

You You

they they

you you

and and

Doggone Doggone

Did Did

to to

Copper, Copper,

and and

people people

drivin' drivin'

Evelyn Evelyn

new. new.

make make of of

provided

school school

learn, learn,

got got

Left Left

for for

can can

got got

away, away,

ways ways

junk, junk,

probably probably

they they

scrap scrap

make make

car car

fellas fellas

One One

us. us.

to to

just just

to to

Carvery. Carvery.

the the

associate associate

an an

just just

from from

steel, steel,

right: right:

of of

drive drive

doesn't doesn't

thing's thing's

away away

know know

Just Just

that that metal metal

by

the the

lay lay

worst­

time, time,

tellin' tellin'

here here like like

Halifax

sold sold

Marie Marie

best best

brass, brass,

don't don't

it it

down down

and and

what what

in in

only only

a a

it? it?

any any

it it

it. it. of of

Municipal

shouldn't shouldn't

got got

they they

belongs belongs

with with

tell tell little little

grandfather grandfather

right, right,

though though

afternoon, afternoon, "Uncle "Uncle

day. day. young young

to to

Bend, Bend,

out out

Willie Willie

Deacon Deacon

right. right. We'll We'll

live live Dixon's, Dixon's,

drivers drivers

before before dump. dump.

they? they?

us us

were were

thread thread

here? here?

"scavenging" "scavenging"

now now

week-old week-old read read

Archives

No No

That's That's

See See

be be

Well, Well,

Some Some

First First We We

You You

out. out.

that that

cut cut

here here

near near

was was

But But

store, store,

their their

that that

and and

a a

bound bound

it it

just just

When When

need need

past past

that that

get get

trees trees

Carvery's

they they

on on

Any Any

lot lot

If If

down down

to to

know know

it it

looks looks

Pa", Pa",

houses houses

to to

to to

George George

we we

get get

it it

folks folks

right right

other other

in in

right. right.

that's that's

then. then.

stuff stuff ain't ain't

be be

give give

tomatoes tomatoes

follow follow

second-hand second-hand

huntin' huntin'

clothes clothes

more more

the the

so so

Lucy Lucy

ain't ain't

these these

too. too.

pond pond

to to

season. season.

throw throw

and and

fool fool

or or

could could

through through

everybody everybody

for for

loose, loose,

those those

just just

let's let's

for for

what what

food food

be be

off off

cops, cops,

say say

and and

really really

us us

great-uncle, great-uncle,

They They

dumps. dumps.

you you

We We

true, true,

It's It's

the the

the the

alder alder

woods woods

. .

Carvery. Carvery.

Mantley's Mantley's

woods. woods.

knows knows

over over

scared scared

lumber lumber

this this

day-old day-old

And And

the the

jackets jackets

like like

from from

go go

the the

stand stand

it it

newspapers newspapers

think think

in in

and and

we we

got got

see see

really really

most most

dump. dump.

and and

though. though.

on on

things things

all all

do do

workin' workin'

Round Round

little little

tracks tracks

the the

dump dump

bushes bushes

there? there?

a a

then then

keep keep

our our

here here

them, them,

clothes clothes

and and

clothes, clothes,

jewel. jewel.

the the

that that

calls calls

you you

the the

of of

nasty nasty

here here

we're we're

and and

pleasant pleasant

other other

on on

gets gets

bread bread

Up Up

path path

that that

place, place,

kind kind

own own

he he

dump. dump.

same same

there's there's

bush bush

there. there.

are are

chained chained

get get

Some Some

big. big.

was was

and and

We We

The The

him. him.

and and

talkin' talkin'

firewood. firewood.

with with

toward toward

too. too.

rags rags

up up

ought ought

runnin' runnin'

talk talk

off off

part part

dog

here, here,

Mrs. Mrs.

you'd you'd

stuff stuff

or or

of of

little little

When When

call call

shoot shoot

put put

around, around,

folks' folks'

Bend. Bend.

thing thing

and and

wildflowers wildflowers

If If

way way

That That

By By

the the

Doesn't Doesn't

their their

out out

of of

Pa Pa

backfired, backfired,

leftover leftover

. .

about about

of of

he's he's

Any Any

about about

in in

to to

off off

here here

Thomas' Thomas'

it it

and and

'em 'em

forest forest

the the

the the

right right

Carvery's Carvery's

never never

dump. dump.

Round Round

of of

around around

to to

our our

our our

a a

for for

be. be.

behinds behinds

the the

other other

Nothin' Nothin'

needle needle

the the

not not

shed. shed.

that that

High High

dog dog

time time

spend spend

we'll we'll

come come

but but

to to

us us

people people

this this

Pa's Pa's

hurt hurt

"lake", "lake",

dogs dogs

next next

sun sun

meat meat

here. here.

trucks trucks

know know

try try

your your

People People

house house

didn't didn't

that that

most most

messy messy

The The

now

the the

and and

diggin' diggin'

Don't Don't

Track Track

be be

place place

and and

hits hits

got got

up up

the the

out out

to to

an an

but but

to to

house. house.

like like

every every

Used Used

all all

that that

ladies ladies

drive drive

it's it's

they they

. .

even even

Dan Dan

here here

of of

a a

it it

all all

is is it it Go on home, boy. That's right. Got nothin' for you Duke's music, maybe you'll remember there's a little here. bit of Africville in it. Well, that's the end of the woods. We're in the last You know, that's one of the reasons why we don't part of Africville. Some of those houses we're lookin' at pay much mind when people talk down to us. If we're now got runnin' water and indoor toilets. They're far good enough for folks like Joe Louis and Duke away from all that "unbreakable" rock the City keeps Ellington, we figure we're dam well good enough for tellin' us about when we want to get water lines put in. anybody else. There's Lully Byers' house. Yeah, that's Lully Well, we're just about at the end of our trip. The hangin' her wash on the line. Her real name's Highways Board Building and the Fairview Overpass Wilhemina. But don't ever call her that, or she'll hang - that's the end of Africville. you out to dry! Sure, you're welcome to stick around. Stop by for There's Rossie Dixon's place. And the Emersons'. supper, we'll be glad to have you. Stay overnight, too, if Reggie and Stella Carvery are here, and Ronald and you want. Always room for one more here. Sooks Howe. Pa Carvery's store's out here, too. And when you get back home, if anybody asks you Did you know Joe Louis stayed at Rossie's house about Africville, you just tell 'em we been through one night? Yeah, Joe Louis. The Brown Bomber good times and hard times, but we're still here. Yeah, himself. We used to listen to his fights all the time on there's been talk about gettin' us out of here. Jamesie Paris' radio. He had one of those old RCA "Relocation," they call it. But we've heard that kind of radios with the big horn. talk before. Long as it's just talk, we got nothin' to You remember when Joe came to Halifax a few " ... every time Duke brings his band to Halifax, he comes out worry about, right? years ago to referee some rasslin' matches? That's how here to see his in-laws." Left to right: George Dixon, Duke he had to make his livin' when he gave up the Ellington and Gordon Jemmott. heavyweight title and then couldn't get it back. Photo Courtesy of Stella Carvery Anyhow, the promoter for the rasslin' put him up in one of those downtown hotels that usually don't take Stella Carvery's place? Well, Duke Ellington stops by coloured guests. Well, when Joe got wind of that, he there all the time. That's right, the one and only Duke. checked right out of that hotel. You know how Joe There's a story behind that, too. was. Never would put up with no discrimination. Duke's wife's name is Mildred Dixon. She was born Then ol' Joe went lookin' for the coloured folks' part in Boston, but her father was an Africville Dixon, and of town, and he ended up here. When he found out he never forgot where he came from. Stella Carvery's a he'd be stayin' with a Dixon, he just lit right up with a Dixon, too - Mildred's her cousin. smile. Tums out he knew all about George Dixon, the Mildred was a ballet dancer. Duke took one look at first colored man to win any kind of prizefightin' her and BOOM-he was in love. They got married championship. Well, you know George was born in down in New York. Africville, and every Dixon here is some kind of Now Mildred was Duke's second wife. He had a son relation of his. So Joe felt right at home, stayin' with a named Mercer by his first one. Mildred was the one Dixon. who raised Mercer; far as he was concerned, she was Seemed like half of Halifax was out here lookin' to his Mama. And every time Duke brings his band to shake Joe's hand or get his autograph. That was some Halifax, he comes out here to see his in-laws. Mercer night for Africville, let me tell you. When Joe left the comes this way, too. And Duke gives us free tickets to next day, he looked like he was sorry he had to go. his concerts. But you know, Joe Louis wasn't the only famous Remember that song of his, "Sophisticated Lady"? person to come to Africville. Remember Reggie and That's about Mildred. Next time you listen to the

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives 15 Relocation and Its Aftermath: A Journey Behind the Headlines

1960-1988

We were wrong. It wasn't just talk. This time, they really meant it. A lot of us tried to convince ourselves it wasn't gonna happen. So many times before, City Council or some newspaper would talk about how Africville was some kind of "blot on the face of Halifax," and how it would be better for everybody if they just tore down our houses and put us someplace else. Then the talk would die down, and we'd just keep on goin' about our business. But around 1960 or so, the'talk didn't end in one of those City Council reports that nobody ever pays attention to. Some big things were goin' on. Winds of change were blowin' like storms out on the Basin. Those storms had names, too. Not pretty names like the ones they give hurricanes. You know, "Hazel," "Betsy," and all. Naw, these were serious names. Names like "Urban Renewal." "Slum Clearance." "Social Planning." "Integration." "Industrialization." And by the time the 1960s were over, those winds tore us apart and scattered us every which way. Took a long time for us to get back together again, even in " ... they found out things weren't as simple as they seemed." A meeting in the Seaview African Baptist Church during relocation. spirit. Photo from the Bob Brooks Collection, counesy of the Public Archives of Nova Scotia For a long time, we almost didn't know who we were. You'd pick up a newspaper and see some Africville cleanupset for spring sell now," they said. "You don't sell, City's gonna take headline about Africville, and wonder who in the it anyway, and you'll be left with nothin'. Buddy next - The Chronicle-Herald, 1961 world they were talkin' about. Didn't sound like door just sold - that oughta tell you what's goin' on." anybody you knew. Oh, they always used to run little "Cleanup". What do you think when you see If you had papers for your land, sometimes you stories about us in the local papers every now and then. something like that? Tidying-up? Spring cleaning? could get a good price for it. If you didn't have papers, But by 1965, it seemed that everybody in Canada had Maybe even a bunch of Boy Scouts with buckets and they'd give you five hundred bucks - sometimes right read something bad about Africville. They read - but brooms comin' to do their good deed for the day? out of a suitcase, so it'd look like more money than what did they really know? We knew this "cleanup" really meant "cleanout." you'd ever seen in your life. And for a lot of us, it was. Let's take a little trip through some of those They wanted us "clean out" of Africville. City Council And so it started, whether we liked it or not. Once headlines. The headlines'll tell you what other folks had already made up their minds. The houses would be something big as a city gets its wheels to tumin', it's thought about Africville. But you'll also learn what comin' down; the people would be moved out. Folks doggone hard to get 'em to stop. But "cleanup"? Naw. Africville thought about the headlines. were already gettin' advice on sellin' their land. "Better That's no way to talk about fellow human beings.

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives 16 Integrationnot answer,Progressive Club told - TheMail-Star, 1962 Segregation's always been a dirty word. With good reason, too. Pushin' people off in one place just because of their colour or religion or language - that never has been right. So when the City started gettin' serious about tearin' down Africville, they said it was a way to "undo segregation". That was before anybody got around to askin' us if we thought we were segregated. Finally, some people from the Progressive Club came down to talk to us. And they found out things weren't as simple as they seemed. Nobody could say segregation wasn't part of our history. Back when Africville got started, we black folk pretty much had to live where we were told to live. Darn near all of us were segregated back then. Didn't have much of a choice. So we did the best we could. Some folks moved away - went down to the States, or to Montreal, or Toronto. The ones who stayed here worked hard and built what they could. After a while, things started openin' up a little on the outside. You could put some money together and move out of Africville if that's what you wanted. So it wasn't like we were livin' behind barbed wire. Another thing. Africville never was restricted just to " ... sooner or later, the house you were in would go down, too." Deacon Ralph Jones' house, boarded up during relocation. To the colored. Remember Curley Vemb, the Norwegian? He left is The Caterpillar Tree, to the right is Tibby's Pond. wasn't the only white person who ever lived in Photo from the Bob Brooks Collection, courtesy of the Public Archives of Nova Scotia Africville. We even had a family from the Philippines once. But coloured was always the majority, so that's Dwellingsat dumpnot very historic We knew better, though. We knew what our why they called us "segregated". grandmothers and grandfathers went through, and - The Mail-Star, 1963 Funny thing is, we knew all about segregation. But what their grandmothers and grandfathers had to do we didn't look at ourselves as a segregated community. How could anybody call a community that was more just to keep themselves alive and give hope to their We just looked at ourselves as a community. And than 120 years old "not very historic"? We looked at children. What Africville went through ... people livin' when the people from the Progressive Club and others that headline, then looked at each other and wondered out their lives sittin' next door to a prison and a TB like them held out integration like some kind of Holy how blind some folks can be. There were all kinds of hospital and a slaughterhouse and a bone mill and Grail, we told them we weren't sure exactly what places in Nova Scotia that hadn't been here as long as railroad tracks in your front yard and to top it all off a integration could do for us as a community. Africville. Don't have to tell you how loud they'd miserable garbage dump set right in the middle of town And the fact that we would raise doubts about it - whoop and holler if somebody wrote something like ... gain' through all that, and still survivin' and scuftlin' well, that kind of shocked 'em. that about them. They'd be gain' to court! to do better ... if that's not history, then what is?

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives 17 Cityto makeAfricville move They said we'd get better housing. Well, some of the as painlessas possible houses in Africville weren't all that great, but what some of us got put into was even worse. After they got - The Chronicle-Herald, 1964 through tearin' down our houses, some of us ended up To this day, nobody's ever explained to us how in places that were condemned. Those folks wondered watchin' a bulldozer knock down your house when when they were goin' to get to live in a house that you don't want it to can be "painless". When we had to wasn't ready for the wreckers. load our family belongings onto City garbage trucks And then there were the ones who got nothin' at all because the movin' companies wouldn't take 'em, other than that five-hundred dollars. Didn't take long nobody gave us a pain-killer, even though we sure did for them to find out five hundred wasn't worth as much need one. as they thought. Before they knew it, that money To this day, we still feel the pain. We feel it every walked. time we drive over the MacKay Bridge, and see nothin' They had to go around knockin' on doors, lookin' but empty space where our homes used to be. Some for somebody to take 'em in. And when they did find a people feel it more than others. But we all feel it. place to stay, half the time some City inspector would come by and say there was too many people livin' The Slowand Welcome Death of Africville there, and guess who'd have to get out. We're talkin' about folks who'd owned their homes before, who'd - The Star Weekly, 1966 had property in their family for more than a hundred How can a death be "slow and welcome" at the same years. time? Slow death is never welcome. Slow death is A lot of us ended up in public housing - Uniacke unbearable. Slow death destroys not only the one that's Square and Mulgrave Park for the most part. We could dying, but also the ones who have to watch it happen. Aaron 'Pa' Carvery. "That old man's house was the last appreciate the indoor toilets and the showers and all. If you ever watched someone you love die slowly, one standin' in Africville. Nothin' but big piles of rubble all But the people already there were kind of stand-offish. day-by-day, hour-by-hour, then you know what it was around it." Some of those folks were our friends, and used to come like being in Africville during the relocation. Every Photo courtesy of The Halifax Herald Limited to our church. But now that we'd been kicked out of day, you'd hear the bulldozers eat up another house Africville, it was like they didn't want to know us that was like a living thing to you. You'd hear the wood finally took what they were willin' to give him, and he anymore. They didn't know what we were gonna do. crackin' like bones. You'd know that sooner or later, moved out in January of 1970. But he didn't take it out The thing is, we didn't know, either. Out home, we the house you were in would go down, too. And you'd of some suitcase. No way. didn't have a lot of money, but we had each other. know there was nothing you could do about it. And that was what reporters and social planners After the relocation, we didn't have a lot of money - Why did it take such a long time to finish the called the "end of Africville". and we didn't have each other. relocation? Mainly because some people just didn't But it wasn't. want to go. Sure, there were some who couldn't wait to Ten YearsLater: The Shameof Africville get out. But others kept holdin' on, some hopin' for a Relocationshort of goals - Canadian Heritage, 1979 better settlement from the City, others just hopin' for a - The Chronicle-Herald, 1972 miracle. Miracle never came, though. All of us had to As time passed, people started changin' their minds get out. They got that one right. Relocation was supposed to about what happened to Africville. Some of the ones Know who the last person to leave was? Pa Carvery. make things better for us. It did - for a few. If you who thought relocation was the best thing that could That old man's house was the last one standin' in were able to get a good price on your house and have happened to us had second thoughts after a while. Africville. Nothin' but big piles of rubble all around it. property, you could buy your way into a better life. But And Africville folk decided it was time to put away the City tried to get him out with one of those suitcases full not too many people were that lucky. For the rest of us, sadness and the grief. Oh, it would always be there. A of dollar bills. Pa was too proud to go for that. He it was a different story altogether. loss like that never goes away. But we weren't gonna let

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives 18 started usin' the name "Africville" as something to rally around. Like, "They ain't gonna do to us what they did to Africville!" But what were we gonna do? That's what we were still tryin' to figure out back in 1979.

Africville DescendantsSociety wants injusticescorrected - The Chronicle-Herald, 1987 We tried doin' some political things after Africville was tom down. The Africville Action Committee tried its best. But it didn't do any good. The City thought it had done the right thing, and it was gonna keep on thinkin' that, come hell or high water. After a while, we decided we needed something that was goin' to bring us together and keep the memory of Africville alive for us and our children. So we started the Africville Genealogy Society. It's there to let everybody know what Africville was, and what happened to us. It brings Africville to life for young people who have roots there, but never saw their parents' and grandparents' homes. Not too long ago, the Society started askin' the City for compensation because of all the problems relocation caused for us. Maybe we'll get it; maybe we won't. Tell you one thing, though. Back when they started the relocation, nobody listened to what we were "We still feel the pain ... every time we drive over the MacKay Bridge, and see nothin' but empty space where our homes used to be." sayin'. This time, they'll listen for sure. Photo by Albert Lee our sadness be the main part of our lives anymore. minds about us, and what happened to us. They were They thought that once the houses were gone and beginnin' to understand that we had something out the people were scattered all over the place, Africville there on that strip ofland by the Basin. It was would be forgotten. That's not the way things turned something you couldn't pin down in property values, out, though. We found ways to get back together - or plumbing, or indoor toilets. It was the spirit of reunions, meetings, committees, and all. We made sure people who'd gone through all kinds of hard times but the City knew we weren't satisfied. All those wonderful still kept on tryin' to do better. It was a spirit that things that were supposed to happen to us once we got wouldn't die, no matter what. out of our "ghetto" - well, those things seemed to All of a sudden, we were a symbol. Other black have disappeared, just like our houses. folks looked at us, and saw what could happen to them But something else was happenin'. It was hard to if they weren't careful. People who weren't all that believe, but some folks were beginnin' to change their particular about knowin' us before the relocation

Copy of 971.6225 S 1989, Africville: A Spirit that Lives On, provided by Halifax Municipal Archives 19

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Executive Executive

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23

least facilities.

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educator industries

Africville

and

open

Council.

as

expected the

reduced

culminated

of

edge

just

As

Africville

the 1989,

was industrial setting, community black political acceptable occurring residential and the Moreover Diseases Africville subsequently "Night-soil" plant Council into service and in homes.

site residents large negative Africville proposals designated area

any City S

to 971.6225

in

the

and

Africville:

of

years

white of

serve told 1849,

in

Basin

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magazine

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poetry Halifax

Canada.

years

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immigration

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institution

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existence

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farmlands

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the

international

was

and

Africville

was

and

this

various

in

Halifax

out

opportunities,

programs,

purchased

followed 1851

increased

of

families

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and

from

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spiritually

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congregation

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barren

established

plus

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community as

experience Scotia communities

Africville

Africville,

the

radio

throughout

day

Byers

Africville story

City, wherewithal community's

an

Africville

After

Until

this national Nova refugees merchants rocky, the bulldozed black and the black Preston the census Africville church major economic began and representing

the penny finally the while by the horses

supplemented government described the true history of the community as "the home is what got me ... I could always sit out on my Co-published by story of many persons who have managed to keep their The Art Gallery, Mount Saint Vincent University steps and give out with a good morning but can't do The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia pride despite circumstances that would have ground that here." Another lamented that he no longer had The Africville Genealogy Society many of us under." anything to pass on to his children. The National Film Board, Atlantic Centre In the early 1960s total relocation finally occurred. Since the relocation there have been sporadic efforts ©1989 At that time Africville was home for eighty families, by the former Africville residents to mobilize and Art Gallery some four-hundred persons (all but a handful of whom secure redress from the City, but they have had only Mount Saint Vincent University were 166 Bedford Highway black). Compared to other Haligonians, black very modest success. Their efforts and the changing Halifax, Nova Scotia and white, the Africville residents had very low times, however, brought about a major reassessment of B3M 2J6 incomes and were very underemployed. Sewerage, the community and the relocation. The negative piped water, paved roads and public lighting were stereotype of Africville has been laid to rest, and the ISBN 0-7703-9348-9 conspicuously absent. Cliques and radically different initial City claims of a progressive relocation have been Front cover: lifestyles presented a social mix which, in conjunction debunked. Africville lives on as an indictment against Africville, 1965 with the community's long history, attested to a rich racism, as a critique of imposed technocratic Photo by Ted Grant, courtesy of the National Archives of Canada human tapestry. This diversity, however, also limited approaches to change, and as a celebration of concerted action by the Africville residents. There was community and the human spirit. Back cover: still enough community spirit to initially reject the idea Twenty-five years ago the local newspaper noted, Last day of Vacation Bible School, 1958 Photo courtesy of Ardith Pye of relocation as it had been rejected in the past in "Soon Africville will be but a name. And in the not too favour of community development approaches. But distant future that too mercifully will be forgotten." Design: Earl Conrad City officials were adamant: Africville had to go. Africville hasn't been forgotten. It shouldn't be. It Printing: McCurdy Printing & Typesetting Limited Equally important was the fact that local, and even won't be. national, community and civil rights leaders concurred Don Clairmont with that assessment. Believing the stereotypes of Africville, they decried segregation and poor living Dr. Donald Clairmont is Professor of Sociology at Dalhousie University, conditions. Halifax. He is co-author of the book Africville: The Life and Death of a The actual relocation took place between 1964 and Canadian Black Community. 1967. The City spent about $400,000 for the lands and Cette publication est aussi disponible en fram;ais. the homes; another $200,000 were budgeted for welfare assistance, furniture allowances and the waiving of unpaid taxes and hospital bills. Relocation planning had called for education and training programs and, in general, the creation of new and better opportunities for the relocatees. In actuality, virtually none of these programs ever happened. Many Africville residents, especially young adults with families and those with no community roots, were initially satisfied with the deal they received from the City. As time went on, however, dissatisfaction increased and became widespread. Several of the score of families who became homeowners elsewhere lost their homes. A large number of families became dependent on welfare. Grief for the lost community mounted. One relocatee noted, "The freedom and the

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