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Carrie M. Best

Leena Jaspal

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Carrie M. Best

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Carrie Mae Best (née Prevoe), OC, ONS, LLD, human rights activist, author, journalist, publisher and broadcaster.

She is known for being the first black owner and publisher of a Nova Scotia newspaper.

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Early Life

Carrie Best was born on March 4, 1903 in New Glasgow.

James and Georgina (Ashe) Prevoe, Best's parents, encouraged her and her two brothers to learn about African-Canadian history and to be proud of their Black background. Best's parents emphasized the significance of education, despite the fact that they had not obtained a good education themselves.

Best was a clever child who began writing poems at the age of four and frequently sent letters to the editors of local newspapers as a teenager.

Family

Carrie's mother and father were James and Georgina Prevoe. She also had two brothers. On June 24, 1925, Carrie married railway porter Albert Theophilus Best. They had one son, James Calbert Best, and later welcomed several foster children including Berma, Emily, Sharon, and Aubrey Marshall into their home and family.

"The irresistible habit of committing poems to memory still persists as like deposits in a savings account, can be drawn at will."

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- Carrie M. Best

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Carrie M. Best's Act

In December 1941, Carrie Best was outraged after hearing that multiple high school girls had been forcefully removed from the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow. She argued vehemently against the racist policy to Norman Mason, the owner of the Roseland Theatre, in person and by mail, but her argument fell on deaf ears.

The 38-year-old and her son, Calbert, attempted to purchase seats for the theatre's main level a few days later. Tickets for the balcony, which was designated for Black patrons, were issued by the cashier. The mother and son entered the theatre after leaving their tickets on the counter. The Bests refused to leave when the assistant manager demanded, and the cops were summoned. Best and her son were charged with disturbing the peace, convicted, and fined after being roughly lifted from their seats by the officer. Best could now file a lawsuit against the theatre.

Best sought damages for assault and violence, damage to her coat, and breach of contract in a civil action that specifically stated racial discrimination. The Bests were allegedly trespassers without tickets, according to Mason and the Roseland Theatre Company Ltd. On May 12, 1942, the case was dismissed because the proprietor's freedom to reject anyone won out over the larger issue of racism. Not only did the judge disregard the discrimination, but he also ordered Best to pay the defendant's legal fees.

Perseverance Pays

Carrie Best was not defeated even after losing her lawsuit against Mason and the Roseland Theatre. Best founded a newspaper to fight the persisting problems of racism and segregation in a way that was arguably more potent than the legal system.

She and her son, Calbert, created The Clarion in 1946, one of the first Black Canadian newspapers to be owned and published in Nova Scotia. The Clarion, which began as a 20-by-25-cm broadsheet, covered sports, news, social activities, and other noteworthy events. The newspaper, which was founded in 1947, focused on improving race relations. The Clarion covered numerous major subjects and pushed for Black rights for a decade. It was renamed The Negro Citizen and began nationwide distribution in 1956.

Viola Desmond, a young Black businesswoman from Halifax, was in a similar situation to the Bests at the Roseland Theatre in 1946.

Awards Won by Carrie M. Best

Honorary doctor of civil law (DCL)

1992

Honorary doctorates from Saint Francis Xavier University (LLD)

1975

Harry Jerome

1986

Order of Canada

1974

Additional Awards

Nova Scotia Black Wall of Fame

1980

Award of Excellence in Race Relations from the Minister of State for Multiculturalism

1990

Black Professional Women’s Group Award Certificate

1989

Queen Elizabeth Medal

1977

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Passing

Dr. Best died peacefully in her sleep at home on July 24, 2001. She received the Order of Nova Scotia posthumously in 2002. In February 2011, Canada Post published a stamp featuring Best. Best was featured in a Google Doodle created by guest artist Alexis Eke on December 17, 2021.

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