Relocation & Africville Study

• What is Africville? How and when did it come about?

  Africville is an African-Canadian village that was nicknamed as is as several Black families lived in the area. The city was founded in 1749 just north of Halifax.
• Where was Africville's spiritual and social centre?

  Africville's spiritual and social centre was The Seaview United Baptist Church.
• Africville could also be described as?

  Africville could be described as a haven from anti-Black discrimination for residents.
• Halifax taxed Africville residents, despite that, how were residents treated? What did they place around the city?

  Halifax collected taxes from residents but did not provide services such as running water and paved roads. They continued to place undesirable services around it: prisons, slaughterhouses, railways, human waste disposal sites, and an infectious disease hospital. Halifax tried justifying this by claiming that the city was an industrial district.
• Halifax announced a relocation program in 1964 to residents of Africville. What did this program–was supposed–to do?

  This program emphasised humanitarian concern. What it–was supposed–do was:

  • Employment and education programs.
  • Remedy housing segregation.

  This was meant as a progressive step that was supported by the Halifax Human Rights Advisory Committee.
• What was the percentage of Africville residents who reported having no discussions with the Halifax Human Rights Advisory Committee?

  Over 80% of residents.
• What is The Relocation Phenomenon? What were some of its characteristics in Canada?

  The Relocation Phenomenon:

  • Part of planned social change carried out by public agency.
  • Usually involuntary for the residents and politically motivated: urban renewal = forced relocation.
  • Scope of renewal in Canada is small compared to the USA.
  • Africville relocation part of a larger redevelopment project in Halifax.
• What did Clairmont and Magill (1999) argue?

  Clairmont and Magill (1999) argued that little Canadian research exists regarding the politics, issues, and human consequences of renewal programs.
• What are the four models of relocation programs?

  The four models of relocation programs are:

  1. The Political Model
  2. The Traditional Model
  3. The Development Model
  4. The Liberal-Welfare Model
• Describe the political model of the relocation programs.

  The Political Model:

  • Recognised relocation often included conflicts of interest.
  • Based on the premise that social problems were political problems and emphasised solutions through political action.
  • Citizen participation is a core element.
• Describe the traditional model of relocation programs.

  The Traditional Model:

  • Neighbourhood or community leaders plan and carry out relocation with the help of the government.
• Describe the development model of relocation programs.

  The Developmental Model:

  • Systems-oriented and neo-capitalist.
  • Supposed to benefit the city or greater community but does not benefit relocatees directly.
• Describe the liberal-welfare model.

  The Liberal-Welfare Model:

  • Emphasised experts and technical knowledge.
  • Symbolic of greater interest in solving social problems.
  • Benefits relocatees directly through compensation, welfare payments, and training programs.
• The Africville relocation was introduced with what model?

  The Africville relocation was introduced as embodying the liberal-welfare model but did not live up to expectations.
• During the destruction of Africville, what was happening?

  What happened during the destruction of Africville was:

  • Most offered small – $6,000 – lumps of money for their land.
  • Some residents had lived there for generations but did not have title to their land and homes.
  • Residents were offered $500 by officials, however those who resisted received nothing.
  • Intimidation tactics were used.
  • Took several years to dismantle the community.
  • The last home was destroyed in 1970.
• When was the Africville Genealogy Society formed? What did this organisation hope to achieve?

  The Africville Genealogy Society was formed in 1980 and sought reparations for the destruction of the community. A settlement was of $3 millions was used to rebuild the Seaview Church, which is now the Africville Museum. Also, the mayor of Halifax offered a public apology.
• What did former residents of Africville argue?

  Former Africville residents argue that their homes were never reimbursed. Many of them also opposed the court settlement.