Raymond Sheppard: “It’s hard to believe, but African people in North America and beyond are still in a state of slavery. For most of us the chains are gone, but the system of slavery is still intact, through power, control, privilege and profit. Slavery did not end; it merely morphed into a mental system, a planned system of limitation and falsehood.”
Elise Harding-Davis: “More times than I can count I have listened to and read, “Those were different or confusing times”, or, “Slavery wasn’t my fault, so why should I have to apologize for what my ancestors/others where responsible for that systemic racism”. You, I and the rest of the world now know better, but shameless buck-passing continues.”
The DPAD Coalition has created a petition requesting the House of Commons and Canada formally recognize their active role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, its legacy and apologize to Black Canadians.
As public debate rages about public space and memorialization, this is a chance to come and walk through the history together.
Raymond Sheppard: “The Canadian government, in concert with the African Canadian community, could establish the mandate and or purpose of the public inquiry, and provide the funds necessary out of the money it made from the historic enslavement of the African and the trillions that this wrongdoing generated and continues to generate.”
This weekend’s video is Black Mother, Black Daughter, by the amazing poet, artist, historian and filmmaker Sylvia Hamilton.
There is constant propaganda deliberately aimed toward us as African people in order to turn hate inward and to promote self destruction, writes Rayond Sheppard. “The quest to conquer and annihilate us as African people is relentless and some of our own people are being used to seal the deal.”
Over and over Black people tell of racism in Nova Scotia, and then there are the stats, but still the message isn’t getting through. Historian Jill Campbell-Miller on the origin of this reluctance to accept that racism is for real, and how a knowledge of history can counteract this disbelief.
“If ever there was a case that was cut and dry this is it. If the Nova Scotia Justice system fails Nhlanhla in their decision and do not hold Nhlahla’s abuser accountable for the damage his crimes have caused it will be a significant miscarriage of justice in our province.”
Angela (Angee) Bowden reflects on 400 years of slavery and the upcoming trial of Shawn Hynes, accused of shooting a high velocity nail gun at his Black fellow worker Nhlanhla Dlamini.
A poem by Angela “Angee” Bowden, to remember that this month 400 years ago slaves first arrived in North America.
When the past is my present
And my scars still remain
And our lives still don’t matter
I am living in that pain