Take a Seat- Take a Stand
Since the start of the transatlantic settlement, black people have lived in Canada. Although black Canadians only make up approximately 3.5% of Canada’s total population,1 black Canadians, through their many tremendous achievements, have had major influences on making Canada a more diverse and welcoming society. “To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try”.2 This quote by Rosa Parks, an American activist in the civil rights movement, can be used to describe the incredible life achievements of Viola Davis Desmond. Desmond, similarly to Rosa Parks, was not afraid when she faced discrimination and used these experiences to create real change and inspire others for years to come.
Desmond was a black Canadian born to an interracial couple in 1914 in Nova Scotia. Desmond had always had aspirations to become a successful business woman and she opened up her own beauty store, Vi’s Studio of Culture and Beauty in Halifax.3 This on its own was a tremendous accomplishment due to the limited opportunities present during the early twentieth century for women of colour to achieve high status and economic success. Desmond took the opportunity to open a parlor catering to women of colour. Desmond’s shop quickly became the centre for social contact in the black community, and created a safe inclusive environment in a time where discrimination and racial prejudice were major problems. Following Desmond’s success with her store, she was then able to open her own school, the Desmond School of Beauty Culture.4 Her hope for her school was to train young black women in this field of study. Desmond’s success as an entrepreneur not only helped foster an inclusive environment through her store, but also created jobs for young black women, paving the way for a more inclusive business world and inspiring women of colour all over Canada.
Aside from her contributions to the business world, Desmond’s actions on the evening of November 8th, 1946 has proven to inspire and amaze people even to this day.5 On that night in the city of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Desmond stopped into the Roseland Theatre. She requested to buy a main floor seat ticket, but was told that it was customary for black people to sit in the balcony as the floor tickets were reserved for white people. She decided that she would not accept this discrimination and took a floor seat regardless. Upon being confronted by the manager, the police were called and Desmond was forcefully dragged out of the theatre. Desmond spent the night in jail and was taken to court in the morning. She was charged with attempting to defraud the government on the basis of the alleged refusal to pay the difference between the upstairs and downstairs tickets. Interestingly, there was no mention of the discrimination she faced due to her race during the trial and the judge fined her $26; however, it is clear that this incident was indeed the result of racial segregation. This conviction stood up until approximately 64 years later when, on April 15th, 2010, she was granted an official pardon- 45 years after her death.6 This pardon served as a public apology for the miscarriage of justice and an acknowledgment of the discrimination Desmond faced.
Desmond was untimely recognized for her courage and bold actions when she was selected to be the first Canadian woman to appear on the face of a Canadian banknote, the ten dollar bill, just this year in 2018.7 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated, “Business woman, community leader, and courageous fighter against racism. A fantastic choice”.8 Desmond was also inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2017, and Montreal even named a street after her. These recognitions are imperative to educating Canadians about Desmond and her story, and highlighting her contributions to social change in Canada.
Despite challenges faced due to discrimination, Desmond managed to create opportunities for herself when there were not many for people of colour, especially women, to prosper. Desmond not only started a successful business but also managed to use her bold actions to prove to women of colour everywhere that discrimination is not acceptable. Desmond never sought praise for her actions at the movie theatre and was not even alive to see her conviction pardoned. Canada’s recognition of the injustice Desmond faced demonstrates how her experience contributed to Canada’s transition to becoming a more diverse and socially aware county.
Endnotes
1 Statistics Canada. “Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census.” Table 1.a, Government of Canada, Statistics Canada, 7 July 2017, www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-can-eng.cfm?Lang=Eng&GK=CAN&GC=01&TOPIC=7.
2 “TOP 25 QUOTES BY ROSA PARKS (of 75).” A-Z Quotes, www.azquotes.com/author/11338-Rosa_Parks.
3 “Viola Desmond.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/viola-desmond.
4 “Viola Desmond.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/viola-desmond.
5 “Viola Desmond.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/viola-desmond.
6 “Viola Desmond.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/viola-desmond.
7 Joseph, Rebecca. “Top 10 Most Influential Canadians.” Global News, Global News, 15 June 2017, globalnews.ca/news/3511306/top-10-most-influential-canadians/
8 Trudeau, Justin. Verified. “Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau).” Twitter, Twitter, 4 Dec. 2018, twitter.com/JustinTrudeau
Bibliography
“Black Canadians.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/black-canadians.
Joseph, Rebecca. “Top 10 Most Influential Canadians.” Global News, Global News, 15 June 2017, globalnews.ca/news/3511306/top-10-most-influential-canadians/.
Statistics Canada. “Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census.” Table 1.a, Government of Canada, 7 July 2017, www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-can-eng.cfm?Lang=Eng&GK=CAN&GC=01&TOPIC=7.
“TOP 25 QUOTES BY ROSA PARKS (of 75).” A-Z Quotes, www.azquotes.com/author/11338-Rosa_Parks.
Trudeau, Justin. Verified. “Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau).” Twitter, Twitter, 4 Dec. 2018, twitter.com/JustinTrudeau
“Viola Desmond.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/viola-desmond