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FILM:  Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia

Black people need witnesses in this hostile world that thinks everything is white.  
James Baldwin, Price of the Ticket

These words, which preface the film Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia, were spoken by African American novelist and essayist James Baldwin. They frame the themes that are present within this story: identity and race, empowerment and activism, and the desire to belong. The fast-paced opening images of the film and the sound design juxtapose traditional representations of Nova Scotia—visual and oral—with images and sounds rooted in an African tradition: Nova Scotia’s tall ship—the Bluenose, a foghorn, a Scottish piper and a statue are presented against the beat of an African drum and archival photographs and contemporary images of African Nova Scotians.

Shingai, the 16-year-old narrator, is filmed against backdrops such as the Bluenose and Citadel Hill, a well-known national historic site. These are images of Nova Scotia that are in sharp contrast to those most often found on tourist brochures, or in various representations of Nova Scotia. They locate African Nova Scotians within the Nova Scotian and Canadian landscapes. They say, “We belong here too.” 
 
“Our culture is not reflected in the school books.”  

In Nova Scotia’s African Baptist oral tradition, people of all ages are encouraged to speak directly about their experiences, to “bear witness.” The opening statements made by the students are examples of this tradition. They express their views with honesty. They yearn to see themselves and to have others see them reflected in all aspects of life at school and in the community. They want to feel a sense of belonging, rather than of alienation. Feeling wanted and valued is an essential element in the process of building a personal identity and self-esteem. 
 
“Sometimes we are ignorant ourselves about our own history.”

The history of African-descended people in Nova Scotia is a long and deeply rooted one. It dates to the earliest period of colonization. In spite of this history and the many contributions made by Black people to Nova Scotian and Canadian society, school texts rarely contained such content. Where there was mention, it was brief and often unbalanced. Remarkably, some of the experiences described by students in the film were not unlike those of earlier generations of African Nova Scotians who also had to cope with feelings of invisibility.

“If we could reach into a lot of people’s minds, you’d be surprised about what  they think of Black people.”

As the young people explored their life choices, they were painfully aware of what others thought of them. They had to cope with these issues at the same time as getting to class on time, writing papers and exams and getting good marks. They had expectations of themselves and were aware of the expectations and preconceived ideas that others may have had of them.

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