MESSAGE FROM HON. DONALD H. OLIVER
Emancipation Day is one of the most important dates on the calendar for Canadians of African descent. It marks the date when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect. In Nova Scotia, we can trace the pain and evils of Slavery back more than 400 years.
We want to now stand up as a Proud People with dignity and with smiles on our faces and praise God and our forefathers who withstood the whip, the beatings, the flogging, the rapes and yet to turn the other cheek, moved forward and opened the doors to tolerance, equality, and fairness for those of us who followed.
We must never forget that we are now officially Emancipated and freed and that is something we never want to be taken from us again.
And, as Senator Bernard has been so eloquently preaching, now, now is the time for Canada to stand up and account for Slavery and the existing anti-Black systemic racism in this country and Apologize for the inter-generational harms of slavery and for reparations.
The time has come for all Black people in Canada to come together with one voice and loudly proclaim to all levels of Government: “Apologize now for Slavery in Canada” and “Reparations Now”.
The time for inaction is passed.
Respectfully:
Hon. Dr. Donald H. Oliver CM. ONS. QC
Appointed by former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to serve in the Senate of Canada from 1990 until 2013, Hon. Oliver was the first black male to sit in the Senate and the second black Canadian appointed to the chamber.
