‘Racism is happening’
Pioneering black women speak out about discrimination
Two women who have made a place in African-Canadian history in Cape Breton say they think racism is still a problem.
“I know that what seems to be slow to change is the racism that’s out there,” said Clotilda Douglas Yakimchuk, one of the first black nurses in Nova Scotia.
“I would like to think it’s changed faster than it’s happening but it’s not.”
Yakimchuk, 86, was the first African-Canadian to graduate from the Nova Scotia Hospital School of Nursing in 1954.
A recipient of the Order of Canada, she was the first AfricanCanadian elected president of the Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia in 1988.
When Yakimchuk was set to take over the presidency, someone contested it and there was an election called. It was the first time in the association’s 100year history that an election was called.
“I don’t want to speculate on why the lady challenged the position I was about to move into, but I was very fortunate that as they voted, they elected me,” said Yakimchuk, who raised her five children alone after her second husband’s death.
“I am very proud to say that I can say that I am the one and only, to date, black person that held that positon.”
Growing up, Yakimchuk saw examples of racism around her. When her father worked at the steel plant, the discrimination against him was so bad he quit and started a business. One of her sisters graduated at the top
of her class in typing and shorthand but was unable to get a job in Sydney and had to move to Halifax.
“I hate to say it, but I think it was because of colour she couldn’t get a job in Sydney,” she said.
Rev. Phyllis Marsh, 70, also remembers instances of discrimination but said that didn’t come until later because her adopted parents taught her everyone is the same.
“Everyone came to our house. My parents entertained black, white, anyone,” she said.
Marsh’s adopted father owned a store where many sailors from ships that docked in Whitney Pier would go to. Sailors from Jamaica, India, Britain and other countries called Marsh’s dad “their father away from home.”
“When I was growing up our community had everything,” said Marsh, who in 2015 became the first African-Canadian woman to be ordain in Canada.
“There was diversity there. I’m not sure we have that anymore.”
Marsh left Cape Breton after finishing high school to live in Toronto. After 21 years there, she moved to Halifax for 21 years then back to Cape Breton.
“It wasn’t until I was older that I started to learn (about racism). Like when you would go into a store and people would follow you,” said Marsh.
She remembers when black friends were told they were overqualified for jobs that went
to white people with the same qualifications. There were times when they were told over the phone they could rent an apartment but when the landlord saw they were black, suddenly the apartment was no longer available.
“Nowadays, race is right in your face. They aren’t even subtle about it. Black women, black men have to work so much harder— it’s so unfair,” said Marsh, who is now the parish priest at St. Philip’s Orthodox African Church.
“My problem is that we’ve got young black students coming up who are, I’m telling you they are so smart, and I get upset that they have to go through this. And they discouraged… they know when racism is happening to them.”
Marsh said she doesn’t know what her generation might have been able to do to stop the problems with racism today, but she thinks inviting community elders to speak at schools could help teach youth about respecting all ethnicities.