Black History Month: Viola Desmond
Melody Ling
Viola Desmond:
The First Lady of Civil Rights
“Do your little bit of good where you are. It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
Viola Irene Desmond, alias Viola Desmond, was an African-Canadian businesswoman and civil libertarian who owned the Desmond School of Beauty Culture to train young Black women in Nova Scotia. She’s known for her defiance against racial discrimination, which thereafter inspired other Black people after a period of time.
An Ordinary Youth
Desmond was born on July 6, 1914 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was one of the nine children in her giant family led by her father, James Albert Davis, and her mother, Gwendolin Irene Davis. However, her father was black, whereas her mother was white - they were an uncommon interracial couple, meaning that Desmond was a mixed child. Regardless of their different ethnicities, they were all accepted as part of the black community in Nova Scotia.
A Dream Emerges
Desmond’s parents’ hardworking attitude made Desmond determined to become a self-standing businesswoman. She thus started receiving training in Montreal and Atlantic City. Subsequently she opened her own beauty school known as the Desmond School of Beauty Culture to provide training to young local Black women and to support their employment growth.
An Unexpected Encounter
On November 8, 1946, Desmond stopped at Roseland Theatre to see a movie and requested a ticket for a seat on the main floor but was assigned to the balcony instead due to segregation policies. Refusing to acquiesce, she approached the cashier for an exchange but was rejected, which led to her arrest for 12 hours, along with a court case because of tax evasion.
Seeking Counsel
After returning to Halifax, Desmond sought advice from her church leaders, who told her to fight the charge. Unfortunately, although she adhered to the counsel, no repayment was made; the government simply dismissed the case with no recourse.
Legacy
Desmond eventually settled in New York City and died there on February 7, 1965. Despite her no longer being alive, her story has been spread across the world. Her courage will forever be recognized, and her significant contribution to the world shall remain in everyone’s hearts. As a means of acknowledging this influential historical person, we should learn from her bravery and resistance.
Page layout by Hasan Ahmed