Africville's 'mother': Ruth Johnson celebrated as tireless advocate for Black community
CBC Archives | Posted: February 26, 2021 2:49 AM | Last Updated: February 26, 2021
Johnson, who died in 2003, helped create the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia
On Feb. 17, 2003, Nova Scotia's Black community mourned the loss of one of its most outspoken advocates.
Ruth Johnson helped found the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia and worked tirelessly on behalf of her community, receiving numerous awards and distinctions that celebrated her efforts along the way.
This CBC Nova Scotia report by Tom Murphy from Feb. 19, 2003, features clips of Johnson speaking about her former home of Africville over the years, as well as archival footage of Africville homes and baptisms in the Bedford Basin.
In the report, Henry Bishop, who served as curator for the Black Cultural Centre at the time, said Johnson was "like a mother of all the former residents of Africville."
A little more than two years before her death, Johnson spoke in an interview about her family history in Africville and compared losing the community to losing her soul.
Africville was demolished by the city to make room for a bridge in the 1960s. At the time of the interview, Halifax was considering building a roadway through part of the park.
The Dec. 1, 2000, interview took place at Seaview Park in north-end Halifax where Africville once stood. The park has since been renamed Africville Park.
For suggestions on content to feature in CBC's online collection of African Nova Scotian archival material, please email ansarchives@cbc.ca
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