Racism, mistrust remain barriers to political aspirations in N.S., say Black candidates

It wasn't the first time Virginia Hinch had received a negative email.

"I decided not to react to the first," said Hinch, a candidate for Halifax regional council. "I didn't want to run on any type of negativity."

But the second email she received from someone who lives in the district she wants to represent was full of racism. That's why she decided to share it on social media, she said. 

The email to Hinch was sent by a man who suggested people in District 8 aren't "stupid enough" to elect another Black candidate. The email went on to accuse incumbent councillor Lindell Smith, who is Black, of "just catering" to racialized constituents in Halifax Peninsula North. Smith is not running this time around.

The man also said Hinch needs to "stop using the victim card" when talking about slavery and reparations. 

"He's saying things about me and he has no clue who I am," Hinch told CBC News. 

"The only thing that he does know is that I'm Black. He doesn't know my character. He doesn't know what I stand for."

Hinch is one of several Black candidates in municipal elections across Nova Scotia looking to represent districts that include some of the province's historically Black communities. She's trying to become only the second Black woman to be elected to Halifax regional council and the fourth non-white councillor since amalgamation in 1996.

In the past, these Black communities have not always had representation in local government. 

"It's been abysmal," said Isaac Saney, co-ordinator of Black and African diaspora studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

"It's always been a sign of the historic disenfranchisement and attempt to socially marginalize the communities."

Nova Scotia's history of slavery and systemic racism continues to affect Black people and how they are perceived in this province, Saney said.

He points to the treatment of Africville residents, the use of police street checks on Black people and the lack of working fire hydrants in the historically Black community of Upper Hammonds Plains. 

"We see that sort of reflected in the political sphere as well," Saney said. 

Saney said some Black people may see municipal politics as a direct way to create change in their communities, and he's glad to see more Black candidates in local elections.

But he said there remains a "nativist discourse" on Canadian values that is anti-Black, anti-immigrant and anti-Indigenous.

"For some people, it's unacceptable that the fundamental status quo of Canada be challenged. Canada is a white Anglo-Saxon mission in many people's minds, right? Even though that's a myth," Saney said.

Lack of trust a barrier

A lack of trust between Black people and government is a challenge for some who might want to get involved in municipal politics, according to one candidate.

"Lack of trust in the system, lack of trust in how things have always been done in communities, in particular, historically Black communities," said John Young.

Young is running for Halifax Regional Municipality's District 14, which includes Upper Hammonds Plains and Lucasville, another historically Black community.

It's important the community has someone with their best interests in mind in a position that can help create change so that those interests can be voiced, Young said. 

"I feel that over the years, many of the communities out of the urban core have been overlooked or became afterthoughts in HRM planning," he said. 

Both Young and Hinch want to be that voice for their communities and hopefully inspire younger people who look like them to get involved in politics.

"If anything comes out of this," Hinch said. "I'm hoping that there are more young Black women stepping up."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.