For more than 150 years, Africville endured as a community of African Nova Scotian families. In the 1960s, Halifax's city government decided to acquire the land and demolish the houses, destroying the community. Africville was demolished, but the spirit of the community lived on.
This book tells the story of Africville in words and pictures. It 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.
"The Spirit of Africville" is a beautiful, poignant account of a proud African Nova Scotian community, and of the systematic neglect, ignorance and arrogance that destroyed it.