Former Africville residents still fighting more than 50 years after community was razed
Former residents of the historic Black community of Africville in Halifax are eagerly awaiting another court ruling that they hope will finally bring them the compensation they believe they deserve. The fight for justice has been ongoing for decades, with some residents not satisfied with the settlement reached in 2010 as a result of a lawsuit that began back in 1996.
Africville was a vibrant community established in the 1800s as a predominantly African Nova Scotian settlement, with around 400 residents from 80 families calling it home. However, in 1970, the city of Halifax demolished the community to make way for the A. Murray MacKay Bridge, displacing its residents and destroying their way of life.
Nelson Carvery, now 82, whose father was the last resident to leave Africville, has been a vocal advocate for proper compensation for the former residents. The 2010 settlement did not include individual compensation, instead offering a public apology, $3 million, and land to rebuild the Africville church. Carvery, along with others, believes that this is not enough to make up for the loss of their community.
Robert Pineo, Carvery’s lawyer, argued in court earlier this year that residents who farmed, fished, and ran businesses in Africville were not adequately compensated for their losses. He is pushing for the community to be given back to the people of Africville, with unused land returned to its rightful owners.
Warren Grant, another former resident, also hopes to be part of the ongoing legal action. He, like many others, believes that monetary compensation and a piece of property to rebuild their lives on would be a step in the right direction. The emotional toll of being forced to leave their homes has had a lasting impact on many former residents, with the trauma of losing their community still affecting them to this day.
While Halifax argues that some individuals do not qualify to join the legal action due to agreements signed in the past, Carvery and his supporters are determined to see justice served. They believe that the city did not follow proper procedures when expropriating the Africville land, and they are hopeful that the court will rule in their favor in the coming months.
The fight for Africville compensation is about more than just money; it’s about acknowledging the pain and suffering experienced by generations of residents who lost their homes and community. As they continue their battle for justice, the former residents of Africville are determined to see their story heard and their rights restored.
In the face of adversity and opposition, they remain steadfast in their quest for recognition and restitution. The legacy of Africville lives on in the hearts and memories of its former residents, who are united in their pursuit of justice and closure.
