Meet Viola Desmond

In Nova Scotia in the mid-1940s, Viola Desmond faces and fights racism in all aspects of her life. She starts her own beauty business to escape racism, is arrested when she sits in the white only section of a movie theatre, and is treated unfairly by the courts solely due to her colour. Her experiences gain great support in the Black community and foster a civil rights movement that leads to the premier of Nova Scotia apologizing to Viola and all Black people. This timely Canadian picture book, with engaging illustrations, demonstrates the type of discrimination Black Canadians faced and continue to face, and is suitable for read-aloud, guided reading groups, and readers’ workshops.