The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children

by Wanda Taylor

In 1921, prominent lawyer and Nova Scotia Black leader James R. Johnston's vision of a place welcoming of Black children came to reality. In an era of segregation and overt racism that saw most orphanages refuse to take in Black children, the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children fulfilled an important role.

But despite its good intentions, today the Home is mostly known for a troubling past. Former residents launched a class action lawsuit alleging sexual and physical abuse suffered at the Home over a period of several decades. In "The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children: The Hurt, The Hope, and The Healing," author Wanda Taylor interviews former residents participating in the lawsuit and upcoming public inquiry and connects their stories to her own relationship with the Home.

The former residents in this book provide an unsettling, and sometimes graphic, description of what life was like inside the Home and describe the many ways the government system designed to protect them instead exacerbated a culture of abuse and neglect.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Canada

176 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2015

Reviews

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can we protect and nurture our children? "We say that children are our future, but at a government level, they are often the last to be discussed and the first to be exploited by policies that don't meet their needs." The systemic racism involved in this story of horrors is clear. This is a deeply researched and deeply felt account, presented with simplicity and respect for those who were willing to tell their stories. "These stories should become lessons." A must read for child welfare professionals and I think survivors of child abuse could find a way forward through the compassion in the writing.

[Bradley Somers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a hard read. Not simply because of the writing, interview style Taylor wrote it in but because the content was hard to digest. In May of 2018 the construction company I work for was hired to restore this home. It was the first official orphanage, built in the 1920's, to care for at risk kids who were black. Over the few months I have worked here we have had several former residents stop in to see our work and most often to share a bit of their story. Although a few have said that being here was a help for their life most have said it was a house of terrors for them. This book captures some of the terrors. It's a hard read but I am glad to have read it and thankful for Wanda Taylor's work in compiling a nearly missed gross injustice to the most vulnerable in our society.

[Jane Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tough read because of the difficult subject matter. These children were failed by so many.

[Kelly Osmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

More 3.5. I found the book a bit choppy to read in some parts but the experiences of the residents were very well written. Not quite what I was expecting overall but having grown up hearing about the Home, it was time to educate myself more on the sad circumstances that were allowed to continue there. Very sad and as the book says, a sad part of Nova Scotian history unfortunately.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was written by a survivor of racial violence and abuse. Someone who suffered and knew the value of her hard-fought lessons would make a difference for other survivors and, hopefully, prevent similar atrocities.

The fact that this home housed biracial siblings and black children who were indigent or orphaned doesn't make the situation any less dire. Everyone deserves dignity, nourishment, education, clothing, and a safe environment. Few in these homes received kindness.

Horror after horror was laid bare for everyone who wants to ensure that these choices are not inflicted on another soul. Children were raped, beaten, molested, terrorized, starved, left in the cold, and used as farm laborers and not paid. Children were denied medical care and treatment, even after severe rapes where they bled for hours. Others were prevented from receiving an education.

Through the pages of testimony, legal briefings, and personal knowledge, we see the pattern of failings that started when the caretakers were not trained or experienced. Many didn't care for the children. Some used them to gratify their deviant behaviors. Money was siphoned off the books, and the home never received adequate funding or oversight.

Many people knew of the abuse, neglect, and multiple other failings. Some looked away, and others kept quiet because they knew the abusers. The police didn't believe the children though the scars told the truth. Even when the children ran for their lives they were traced down for additional harm. The negligence and cycle were protracted. The only solace is that the survivors are now free from beatings and physical pain.

The physiological wounds remain, and the children who died or were murdered are lost, but their plight is now on record for kind people to stand in unity and awareness to protect those who need the most care. Racism was a by-product of separating the siblings. It's a saddening fact, but evil lies under the skin.

[Christina Hurst-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very hard read to see what these children had to deal with, knowing that the people who are suppose to be caring and looking out for them let them down.they system let them down and caused years beyond years of damage. Their childhood was taken from them and these care givers should had been brought Thur the justice system.

[Erin]

The book contains very heavy subject matter but it's important to acknowledge the history and devastating treatment the children at the Home went through. The book also shows how no matter how what the truth will prevail.

[Archi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard read, but stories that need to be heard.

[Marisa Buchanan]

I’m not sure how to apply a star rating to a book like this. The book was very well written. The content was very disturbing, and truly heart breaking. Another dark part of Nova Scotia’s history.

[Heather Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tough read because of the content. I grew up in Halifax and was curious about the Home. Very informative but difficult to read.

[Tracy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a heart aching gathering of historic horrors still being lived in the private minds of those who endured placement. Full of information on what is the mirrored imaging of the scars created by residential schools. I knew there were issues in what was the community of Africville, however did not know there was such a large child uprooting issue.

The horrors that these children were subjected to should never have happened. ALL the adults involved failed these children and their families on numerous levels. Government faulting aside, as the book was fluent in that coverage, I'm curious as to why no one within the communities stood up for them? The frustration I feel for the increased cases being uncovered has soured me to the "not me - not my problem" attitude that also is abundant.

[Jasmine Renaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heart breaking story out of Nova Scotia. The author gets her subjects to tell the story point blank, and without holding back. A great way to educate people on the tragedies that occurred. Though very graphic at times, this book was very hard to put down.