Born: 1914 (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Died: 1965
Biography:
Viola Irene Desmond (July 6, 1914 – February 7, 1965) was a Canadian civil and women’s rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. Her courageous act of defiance against racial segregation in 1946 sparked a major civil rights movement in Canada.
Born on July 6, 1914, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Viola Desmond was one of ten children of James Albert and Gwendolin Irene Davis. Her father worked as a stevedore before becoming a barber, and her upbringing in a working-class family instilled in her a strong sense of justice and equality.
Inspired by her own experiences and the lack of professional hair and skin-care products for black women, Desmond resolved to address this need. However, due to racial discrimination, she was not allowed to train as a beautician in Halifax. Undeterred, she sought training in Montreal, Atlantic City, and even enrolled in one of Madam C. J. Walker’s renowned beauty schools in New York.
Equipped with her newfound skills, Desmond returned to Halifax and opened her own hair salon called Vi’s Studio of Beauty Culture. Her salon quickly became a gathering place for the local Black community, as well as a symbol of empowerment and pride. Among her notable clients were Portia White, a renowned singer, and Gwen Jenkins, who later became the first black nurse in Nova Scotia.
Desmond’s most significant contribution to the fight against racial discrimination occurred on November 8, 1946. While traveling through New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, she decided to attend a movie at the Roseland Theatre. Unbeknownst to her, the cinema was segregated, with a whites-only section and a designated area for Black patrons in the balcony. Viola Desmond, refusing to accept this injustice, purchased a ticket for the main floor rather than the balcony.
As the movie began, the theater staff noticed Desmond sitting in the whites-only section and demanded that she move to the balcony. Despite her protest and rightful claim to her purchased seat, she was forcibly removed from the theater and arrested. The charge brought against Desmond was a minor tax violation for the one-cent difference between the price of her ticket and the balcony ticket intended for Black patrons.
Desmond’s case garnered significant attention and became a focal point in the struggle for racial equality in Canada. Her determination to challenge segregation and her subsequent trial exposed the widespread discrimination faced by Black Canadians. Activists rallied around her cause, organizing protests, and advocating for change.
Although Desmond was convicted and fined, her courageous act inspired others to question racial segregation and fight for justice. Her case is widely regarded as a turning point in Canadian history, laying the foundation for the modern civil rights movement in the country.
In 2010, Desmond was posthumously granted a free pardon, proclaiming her innocence and acknowledging the unjust treatment she endured. However, it wasn’t until 2021 that the government repay her $26 fine, adjusted for inflation to $324 CAD, in the form of a $1,000 scholarship. The Crown-in-Right-of-Nova Scotia also issued an apology for prosecuting her for tax evasion and acknowledged her rightful resistance against racial discrimination.
Viola Desmond’s legacy extends beyond her pivotal role in the civil rights movement. In 2018, she became the first Canadian-born woman to appear alone on a Canadian banknote, the $10 bill. This historic recognition symbolizes her enduring impact on Canadian society and her status as a trailblazing advocate for equality.
Awards:
– Posthumous free pardon granted in 2010
– National Historic Person designation in 2018