New minor at Dalhousie University focusing on black history is progress, says Professor
Posted Nov 25, 2016 06:23:25 AM.
Last Updated Nov 25, 2016 06:23:50 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – A new program at Dalhousie University is making some waves in the community, and is being hailed as progress.
The new inter-disciplinary minor Black and African Studies is a big step towards understanding the history of Nova Scotia and Canada, according to Dalhousie’s Black Studies Chair Afua Cooper.
Topics covered include Nova Scotia activist Viola Desmond, the Nova Scotia black battalion, and many of Canada’s early black athletes.
“I have 66 people in my class,” said Cooper. “Most of them hadn’t heard of these stories.”
But if Cooper had her way, these stories wouldn’t only be taught in post-secondary.
“Indeed we are failing our students by not teaching them the totality of our history.”
Cooper applauded news that Viola Desmond is being considered to be on the new $50 bill.
