Viola Desmond to be first Canadian woman on bill

[kimibrighteyes]

www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-banknote-woman-1.3885844

Black rights activist Viola Desmond, who was jailed for defiantly sitting in the "whites only" section of a Nova Scotia film house, will be the first Canadian woman to be featured on the country's $10 bill.

Desmond is often referred to as "Canada's Rosa Parks," though her historic act of defiance occurred nine years before Parks famously refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Ala.



I never knew about Viola Desmond before, but I was very happy to see them make this decision.  I was discussing it with my kids this morning at breakfast (they are 9 and 6).  It led to a good starting discussion about racism with them.  

[andwhat]

I have never heard of her. I feel better that you as a Canadian didn't know her either because I was thinking this was another thing where everyone has to learn American history, but we don't learn history about other places.

This is great.

[kimibrighteyes]

Dec 9, 2016 10:05:15 GMT -5 andwhat said:

I have never heard of her. I feel better that you as a Canadian didn't know her either because I was thinking this was another thing where everyone has to learn American history, but we don't learn history about other places.

This is great.

I think growing up that we learned "white history"
Also, the black population in Canada is a lot smaller.  However, still lots of racism here, especially towards our Aboriginal population

[redwino]

This is a great story. I'm glad her sister is still alive to see it. andwhat I feel like you because I didn't know that Canada had legal segregation until this article. I need to learn more about Canada.