Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia 1992

by Sylvia Hamilton

"One of the best things about learning, is passing on what you discover to other people." Shingai Nyajeka."

A film about a group of Black Nova Scotian students and their quest for knowledge of self and their place in their own and the community at large.

In the face of racism and marginalization, they work to establish a Cultural Awareness Youth Group, a vehicle for building pride and self-esteem through educational and cultural programs. With help from mentors, they discover and share, the richness of their heritage and learn some of the ways they can begin to affect change. Shot on location in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada)

The Seaview African Baptist Church bulldozed in 1967

"Nova Scotia in black context:

People of African descent have been living in Nova Scotia for almost 300 years. In Acadia, from the early to mid 1700s, there were more than 300 people of African descent in the French settlement at Louisbourg, Cape Breton.

In Halifax in 1751 there were 15 Black people. Between 100 and 150 people of African descent were among the new settlers, now known as the Planters, who came from New England after the British gained control over Nova Scotia in 1763.

Over 3,000 Black people came as part of the Loyalist migration between 1783 and 1785.

In 1796, 550 people, known as the Maroons, were deported from Jamaica to Nova Scotia. In 1800 they were relocated to Sierra Leone.

Some 2000 escaped slaves came from the United States during the War of 1812, under conditions similar to those of the Black Loyalists. They had thrown in their lot with the British between 1812 and 1816 and were offered freedom and land in Nova Scotia. They moved into the Halifax area to settle at Preston, Hammonds Plains, Beechville, Porter's Lake, and the Lucasville Road, as well as the Windsor area.

In the early 1900s Black immigrants were actively recruited from Barbados, West Indies to work in Cape Breton for the Dominion Coal Company. This community survives to the present day in Whitney Pier, Glace Bay and New Waterford.

People of African descent continue to immigrate to Nova Scotia today."

Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia by Sylvia Hamilton, National Film Board of Canada

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