How Can I Recognize Emancipation Day?
- Attend an event taking place throughout the province with your friends, family and children
- Talk about the history and current issues that affect African Nova Scotians and how we can work together to address systemic anti-Black racism
- Have courageous conversations about race and racism
- Talk about the true meaning of reparations
- Pay homage to the souls lost in the Atlantic Ocean during the middle passage by placing a flower in the ocean
- Learn more about August 23: The United Nations International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
What Does Recognizing Emancipation Day mean?
“Acknowledging that our ancestors were enslaved in this province is one step toward righting the historical wrongs and resulting harms that African Nova Scotians continue to experience. The announcement of Emancipation Day is a milestone on the way to true emancipation for African Nova Scotians as a distinct people.”
– Michelle Williams, Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Law and Co-chair of Dalhousie’s African Nova Scotian Strategy
“August 1 is a day for all Nova Scotians to pause, remember our painful past, reflect on our present and prepare for a better future for people of African descent. This recognition will help us to move toward collective healing and a more socially just province.”
– Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, for Nova Scotia (East Preston)
“The enslavement of our African ancestors was a dehumanizing and brutal from the time they were stolen from their homes. However, they remained courageous, resolute, and resilient in their fight which is why we are standing here today. We celebrate their sprits and share their stories as inspiration to break those visible chains of racism and discrimination that we suffer with today.”
– Louise Delisle, Advising Chair and Founder of South End Environmental Injustice Society