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Don't have much background knowledge about what happened with Viola Desmond? Watch this!

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Don't have much background knowledge about what happened with Viola Desmond? Watch this!

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(Historica Canada)

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Viola loved the idea of being a hairdresser, but beauty schools in Nova Scotia refused Black Canadians. Viola trained as a beautician elsewhere and soon operated her own beauty school and salon! (2nd photo of beauty school below)

(Robson)

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How is Viola Desmond politically significant for our country?

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How is Viola Desmond politically significant for our country?

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Viola Desmond is politically significant because during the incident that occured in the Roseland theatre, she had realized the injustice that she experienced in court. Attempting to appeal for her rights, Viola was brought to the Supreme court of Nova Scotia. She lost the trial and was charged $26 dollars (equivalent to around $200 today CAD), some of it for the theatre (One Woman's Resistance). However, a couple years pass and in 1954, a segregation had legally ended (One Woman's Resistance). Racial discrimination is a long lasting issue, our country is advancing and slowly becoming more accepting as a community. Viola Desmond was Canada’s sole activist in making Canadians become aware of this issue. Racism has an extreme impact on many other citizens, and some may not be aware of the problems that is happening around us. Some may not see the big problem in racial segregation, but Viola made us aware of this impactful issue.

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Are there actions that Viola Desmond did to achieve her objective of solving this civic issue of racial segregation?

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Are there actions that Viola Desmond did to achieve her objective of solving this civic issue of racial segregation?

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An action that Viola Desmond used in the court was to communicate and express her rights towards the government. Although her initial purpose of watching the movie was not to become an activist for racial equality, she was definitely able to spread awareness about racial segregation, and educate many future generations to come (Future generations benefit from the actions of Viola Desmond). Viola Desmond’s objective as an activist was to be treated fairly by others regardless of race, and although she was never given the chance to experience the cultural impact she had created for others herself, she indefinitely achieved her objective and changed Canada for the better. Viola has given African Canadians a life with more fairness/equality and taught others to fight for social injustice (Future generations benefit from the actions of Viola Desmond).

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Viola Desmond | The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/viola-desmond.  Accessed 8 May 2019.

April 10, Bruce Deachman Updated:, and 2019. 15 Canadian Stories: Viola Desmond, Reluctant Social Activist | Ottawa Citizen. 1 Sept. 2017, https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/15-canadian-stories-viola-desmond-reluctant-social-activist.

Future Generations Benefit from the Actions of Viola Desmond | Cape Breton Post. http://www.capebretonpost.com/opinion/columnists/future-generations-benefit-from-the-actions-of-viola-desmond-21362/.  Accessed 8 May 2019.

Education, McGraw-Hill. Black History Month in Canada: Viola Desmond Facts & Accomplishments | McGraw-Hill Education Canada. https://www.mheducation.ca/blog/black-history-month-in-canada-viola-desmond-facts-accomplishments/.  Accessed 8 May 2019.

“One Woman’s Resistance.” CMHR, https://humanrights.ca/node/23.  Accessed 8 May 2019.

Historica Canada. Heritage Minutes: Viola Desmond. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie0xWYRSX7Y&feature=youtu.be.  Accessed 8 May 2019.

Archives, Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Archives - Viola Irene Desmond. 19 Jan. 2015, https://novascotia.ca/archives/desmond/archives.asp?ID=25.

---. CMHR, https://humanrights.ca/node/23.  Accessed 9 May 2019.

Late Viola Desmond Granted Apology, Free Pardon | Novascotia.Ca. https://novascotia.ca/news/smr/2010-04-15-pardon.asp.  Accessed 9 May 2019.

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On February 16, 2015, a newspaper was posted about Nova Scotia Heritage day.

(The Halifax Chronicle page 11)

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Desmond's School of Beauty Culture (Viola is on the far left!)

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Desmond's School of Beauty Culture (Viola is on the far left!)

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(Robson)

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How has Viola's actions changed Canada? What has stayed the same?

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How has Viola's actions changed Canada? What has stayed the same?

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Viola Desmond’s actions has changed how Canadians perceive racial inequality, in 1954, Canada passed an outlaw that stated “black citizens were no longer subjected to seperate” (Black History Month in Canada: Viola Desmond Facts & Accomplishments), or that they were to be treated the same. Viola Desmond’s actions that day has made an impact in our societal structure. Canadians now comprehend the unfair treatment and harsh conditions that the government and citizens put Viola in. Although she has changed a majority of Canadian citizens views on being treated fairly regardless of race, some individuals continue to be ignorant and racist towards people of other skin colours, thinking that some races are more privileged than others. Canadians should become more accepting and end this civic issue. In the near future, we hope that all black Canadians can always be given the same opportunities and be treated equally, as any other Canadian citizen (Black History Month in Canada: Viola Desmond Facts & Accomplishments).

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How has Viola Desmond brought attention to the political and social issue?

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How has Viola Desmond brought attention to the political and social issue?

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The cause/issue that takes place is the racial discrimination that Viola Desmond faces when she is refused access to the downstairs movie theatre, even after paying for a downstairs ticket (Deachman). This shows a huge political and social issue that Viola attempts to change. The human rights that were violated was “no unfair detainment” and “we are all born free and equal”. Viola Desmond was clearly detained in prison for a poor reason, with the reason being that she had not paid the admissions tax (1 cent), while others knew it was because of her race (Deachman). Viola was also violated the right of being equal and free. The lady in the movies admission box told Viola that “her kind” was not welcome in the downstairs theatre (Deachman), which is a huge sign of racial segregation.

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Background information - has factors, or events happened in the past that made Viola inspired to become an activist or an "agent of change"?

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Background information - has factors, or events happened in the past that made Viola inspired to become an activist or an "agent of change"?

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In the 1900s, there was a lot of racial discrimination between white and black people. White people were considered more privileged and were treated with more respect than black people ever experienced. In the 1900s, if a black person entered a beauty salon as a customer, they would be refused (Bingham). Viola Desmond decided to fight back this segregation by opening up her own beauty salon welcoming specifically black women, she also became an entrepreneur and began selling her own line of beauty/hair products (Bingham). This may have been a factor as to why Viola was so determined to keep her seat in the theatre; because she was appalled that some people were given extra privileges because of their skin colour.

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Theatre where Viola Desmond faced racial segregation.

(New Glasglow)

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Apology for Viola Desmond/her pardoning 

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Apology for Viola Desmond/her pardoning 

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Nova Scotia made an apology and as well pardoned Viola Desmond in 2010.

(Late Viola Desmond Granted Apology, Free Pardon)