Heritage Month Honours Leading Ladies

NOTE: The following is a feature story about African Heritage Month.

Leading ladies is the perfect description for the six women being honoured this year for African Heritage Month.

Edith Cromwell, Annaopolis Co.; Ada Fells, Yarmouth, Co.; Geraldine White, Amherst; Beryl Braithwaite, Sydney; May Sheppard, Halifax; and Willena Jones, Truro; have made great contributions to the success of their communities and its members. Mrs. Cromwell, Mrs. Fells and Mrs. White were honoured posthumously.

Lasting legacies are opportunities that exist because of their hard work and dedication.

Teachers, activists, youth group leaders, volunteers and choir members; these Leading Ladies have made inroads in numerous aspects of community living.

One honouree, Edith Cromwell, last year described her experience as a young teacher in Annapolis County.

"Being a teacher back then, in Inglewood, it wasn't easy," she said. "I had only the bare minimum in the classroom – desks, chalk and a chalkboard. The students would pass around books and had to share their texts. We didn't even have a library."

After decades of teaching with the most basic of necessities, Mrs. Cromwell successfully lobbied to have her students bused to Bridgetown where they could reap the advantages the town school had to offer, and no longer had to share meagre supplies.

"The kids travelled into the city in a bus that was converted from an old hearse. These kids from Inglewood have become scientists, nurses and meteorologists, and live and work all over the world," she said. "It's my biggest accomplishment and I'm very proud of it. After that, I didn't need to teach anymore."

Mrs. Cromwell, and the other five women, are featured on the colourful 2010 African Heritage Month commemorative poster, complete with a photo and brief biography. Their photos are also prominently displayed on event brochures, giving all Nova Scotians an opportunity to learn the stories of these unsung matriarchs.

The women were also honoured during the provincial launch of African Heritage Month at Province House's red chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

"Leading Ladies, Lasting Legacies tells the story of six women from across Nova Scotia who were, or are, outstanding figures in their communities," says African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Percy Paris. "Each have, in their own unique way, made great contributions to all African Nova Scotians."

Head of the African Nova Scotian North-Central Network, Crystal States, agrees.

"These women don't toot their own horns, but have done a lot of little things that have made a difference to the bigger picture," Ms. States says. "They are just a small example of the many great and deserving community women."

Another special feature at the launch, was a performance by talented spoken word artist and Halifax Regional Municipality poet laureate Shauntay Grant, who wrote a piece especially for the occasion.

Ms. Grant explains that the profiled matriarchs represent all African Nova Scotian women who have provided their children with constant love, support and encouragement, often sacrificing themselves for the betterment of their community.

"When we recognize our mothers, we're really saying thank you. I'm not sure if I can fully express my overwhelming gratitude in one poem."

The contributions of this year's six honourees make up only a small fraction of the largely untold stories of the province's African Nova Scotian matriarchs.

Although some might shrug off the title of heroine and dismiss the importance of their achievements, Ms. States champions their accomplishments.

"There is a legacy of success because of the efforts of these women," she says.

For more on African Heritage Month including information, photos and biographies of the Leading Ladies, visit www.gov.ns.ca/ansa/specialevents.asp .