Viola Desmond (1914 - 1965)
Canadian businesswoman, civil and women's rights activist,
arrested, convicted and fined for challenging racial segregation
in a Nova Scotia cinema in 1946 (pardoned in 2010);
in 2018, she became the first Canadian-born woman
to appear alone on a Canadian bank note (our current $10 bill),
with the Canadian Human Rights Museum on the reverse.
34 comments:
We ALL owe so much to women like Viola Desmond.
Maybe she could be a Beautiful Woman of the Month?
...I'm glad to meet you, Viola!
@ Boud -- Yes, she was! This post did first appear on my other blog -- recycled now to She Who Seeks.
Love that photo. Such an inspiration!
A remarkable woman of whom we can all be proud. Strength and integrity have no color nor borders.
Once again, it's women leading the way!!
Thanks for sharing he rstory.
New to me, but it's always good to learn something new.
I love Canada.
Always be brave and stand up for what is right.
I knew she was on the $10 bill, but I didn't know anything about her, so I looked her up. I know there is racism in Canada, especially in Alberta, but it still makes me so sad. We need to do better.
@ Pixie -- Yes, there was and still is lots of racism right across Canada. Canadians have nothing to feel smug about in that department.
Hooray for Viola! So good to see her photo on the $10 bill.
Successful women are everywhere. They simply are not given credit for the things they accomplish and do for society at large. Racism is everywhere. Sadly, the world can't seem to grasp the actuality of "race." There is only one: Human.
Beautiful woman, Beautiful note 🤩
Thanks for sharing 💖
P.S. Never have a Canadian note 🤔
I' always thrilled when I get one of her $10- bills as change, Debra.
Viola, inspiration for all of us. Also thank you for your comment on my blog today.
Hello Debra, I had to look up Viola Desmond, and on her Wikipedia page there is much interesting information, including the fact that the judge lamented the "opportunity to right the wrong done this unfortunate woman" but that the case was incorrectly argued. Also, the film she went to see, The Dark Mirror, with Olivia de Havilland and Lew Ayres, looks like a good one. Moreover, this was Lew Ayres first film after being a conscientious objector during the war, so moral issues were in the air. Finally, Viola Desmond came out with her own line of cosmetics suitable for dark complexions (one tin illustrated in the article) and we'll see whether I unearth one of her containers some day!
--Jim
Thanks for this information, Debra. I've never heard of Viola and I love learning about powerful, Black women. I'll share her name with Carol.
Love,
Janie
I had never heard of Viola Desmond before so thanks for putting the old blog spotlight upon her today. She died so young and I wonder why.
@ Yorkshire Pudding -- Wikipedia simply says she died at 50 from gastro-intestinal bleeding. But yes, that was young.
Thanks for introducing Viola, another amazing woman who made a difference.
What an incredibly strong and beautiful woman.
Wow. That's neat. I just wish she had gotten to know what a difference she made.
Beautiful portrait of her and very inspiring post, Debra! Thank you so much for sharing.
SHEro.
And now I need one of those bank notes!
XOXO
I didn't know this, great info.
This is a new name to me! I'm currently involved in a Black History Month project at my UU church, and if you don't mind, I think I'll pass this information along.
Another courageous woman. I enjoyed reading about her!
I didn't know that. interesting.
I'm glad she's still in circulation!
Another one I had never heard of.
Thank you for bringing this up dear Debra
I believe she was powerhouse of dignity and strength
She deserves respect and we feel inspired by her 🙏👌
To Viola and those before her and those that fight everyday, we love you and stand with you.
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