Razing Africville by Jennifer Nelson

Author:Jennifer Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SOC031000
Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Published: 2008-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

Not the End

In mid-1967, MacDonald’s term as the relocation social worker ended. He exited by sending a letter to each former resident, abruptly stating that they should contact the city welfare office when they required assistance in the future. This presented an acute crisis, as the welfare director had an entirely different perspective on several counts. First, the welfare director claimed he had never been consulted about this shift of responsibility; MacDonald had not once approached him or forewarned him of the notices he had sent to Africville residents. Second, he had been opposed to the Rose report and the community’s demolition from the beginning, and felt the city should have provided for the specific needs of relocatees, which did not meet the regular criteria of welfare funds.61 Another problem arose in that the duration of payments had not been made clear to Africville people, nor, it seems, within council itself. Similar to the vague ‘official’ answers on other issues, the development officer claimed they had merely warned relocatees that welfare ‘would not be available indefinitely.’62

With a lack of definitive plans, dwindling financial compensation, abandonment by the relocation social worker, and the end of the HHRAC and the Africville subcommittee, dislocated Africville people were left to their own resources. City officials, in interviews, stated that they had expected the provincial government to take responsibility for follow-up programs. MacDonald had purportedly sent a letter recommending such follow-up to council, which was approved but never instituted. How this matter, approved only by city council, was supposed to engage provincial government support is not explained. Rather, it seems that all involved in administrative positions assumed another department was looking after the post-relocation recommendations, or at least they claimed this assumption when questioned as to their own inaction. HHRAC members explained that they, too, had assumed follow-up was taking place after their disbandment, and that MacDonald had left with a long-term plan in place to assist relocatees.63

After some months of floundering, realizing no one else had taken responsibility, the city established a Social Planning Department under the direction of a social worker, Harold Crowell. This department established a follow-up program, to be directed by Alexa McDonough,64 also a social worker. The program first engaged in meetings and discussions with residents and other concerned citizens in an attempt to establish the gravity of the situation. They found Africville relocatees had incurred an enormous debt load due to their neglected needs and unpreparedness for increased living expenses. Funds were petitioned from the provincial government, with some supplementation by the city, and the Seaview Credit Union was established to deal with debt payments. This union was largely unsuccessful, however, as unstable employment, inflation, illnesses, or other difficulties prevented many residents from meeting their financial commitments. Africville residents also tended to distrust the institution as another city-sponsored project.65

At the same time, the Africville Action Committee, composed of former residents, was formed to demand compensation and the fulfilment of promises made by the city.66 They brought to light three

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