African Heritage month launched

NEW?GLASGOW - No matter what their heritage, the people gathered at New Glasgow town hall Monday were brothers and sisters.
"For those of African-Nova Scotian descent, we are all connected and we are all family," Percy Paris told the standing-room only crowd Monday.
Paris is the provincial minister of African Affairs - and the first black Nova Scotian who has held the cabinet post, which he called "personally gratifying."
He was on hand Monday to officially launch African Heritage Month activities in the town, which is one of the province's 48 African Nova Scotia communities and home to the largest concentration of African Nova Scotians in the northeastern section of the province.
"Our town has been blessed with African Nova Scotian citizens who have been and continue to be leaders in government, education, the arts and athletics, as well as pioneers in human rights and social activism at local, provincial, national and even international levels," said New Glasgow Mayor Barrie MacMillan.
This month is about celebrating the achievements of the black community, Paris said as he unveiled the official poster for African Heritage Month, which features six women honoured for their contributions to society.
"These women represent the contributions and sacrifices of females of African descent made over countless years," Paris added.
Edith Cromwell from Annapolis County, Ada Fells from Yarmouth County, Geraldine White from Amherst, Beryl Braithwaite from Sydney, May Sheppard from Halifax and Willena Jones from Truro are all featured on this year's poster.
The African Nova Scotian community has grown significantly since African Heritage Month was first celebrated 26 years ago. As recently as 20 years ago, there were few black lawyers in Nova Scotia, Justice Minister Ross Landry said.
"Today, there are so many we no longer track that point," Landry said. "It means the justice system is changing for the better."