Black Explosion adds fresh perspective to historic tragedy

Many African Nova Scotian stories left out of Halifax Explosion tales

After more than a century, the Halifax Explosion remains an event that looms large in the minds of Nova Scotians as a defining moment in our history.

And in the course of his own years of research, Halifax writer David Woods discovered there are still many stories to tell about the devastating cataclysm of Dec. 6, 1917, specifically those from the region’s African-nova Scotian communities.

Last week, Woods hosted a unique event at the Black Cultural Centre in Cherry Brook, combining history, drama and storytelling titled Black Explosion, connecting the narrative threads of the Halifax Explosion, the First World War and the civil rights movement.

Based on the research he’s done for his upcoming play Extraordinary Acts, the evening featured story tellers Wanda Robson from North Sydney, Kentville’s Geraldine Browning and Halifax’s Wanda Lewis, painting a broader picture of the events of that fateful day, as well as uncovering some of the hateful truths about the systemic racism of the time.

“It’s been a very interesting journey for me, exploring the Halifax Explosion,” Woods told the packed crowd, before discussing his research and desire to spread the story of Dr. Clemente Courtnay Ligoure, who treated the wounded at his North Street clinic.

“It feels like it was my destiny to write about this man,” said Woods. “He was from Trinidad, which is also where I happened to originate, before North Preston stole me away. The more I found out, the more I wanted to learn about this hero, as well as the African-nova Scotian experience, which is consistently left out of the annual commemorations of the Halifax Explosion.”

The lecture included historical information about the Explosion, including an often- reprinted photo of four women from Africville making their way along what is now Barrington Street past rubble and jagged timbers that used to be families’ homes.

Woods says the story of black Nova Scotians is rarely part of the historical record.

The explosion’s reach also included the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children, a much-needed institution that was destroyed in the disaster before it officially opened, and was ultimately established in Westphal in 1921.

People also shared their stories at the recent gathering, including 92-year-old Wanda Robson.

Within seconds of the blast, her father James Davis ran to the kitchen where her little sister, Viola Desmond, was in her high chair, covered by the window shade which protected her from flying glass.

“She had her hands over her head, and she said, ‘those bad boys are throwing stones at me,’” recalled Robson, before describing how her father then bundled up the kids and went down the street to check on their grandmother. They found her in her kitchen, where the force of the blast had sent her flying up onto the top shelf of the cupboard.

*Editor’s note: For the full story, go to www.thechronicleherald.ca