Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! - by Jody Nyasha Warner

About the Book

In 1946, Viola Desmond bought a movie ticket at the Roseland Theatre in Nova Scotia. After settling into a main floor seat, an usher came by and told her to move, because her ticket was only good for the balcony. She offered to pay the difference in price but was refused: "You people have to sit in the upstairs section." Viola refused to move. She was hauled off to jail, but her actions gave strength and inspiration to Canada's black community. Vibrant illustrations and oral-style prose tell Viola's story with sympathy and historical accuracy.

Book Synopsis

Finalist for the 2011 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction

"On behalf of the Nova Scotia government, I sincerely apologize to Mrs. Viola Desmond's family and to all African Nova Scotians for the racial discrimination she was subjected to by the justice system ... We recognize today that the act for which Viola Desmond was arrested, was an act of courage, not an offence." -- Darrell Dexter, Premier of Nova Scotia, April 15, 2010

In Nova Scotia, in 1946, an usher in a movie theatre told Viola Desmond to move from her main floor seat up to the balcony. She refused to budge. Viola knew she was being asked to move because she was black. After all, she was the only black person downstairs. All the other black people were up in the balcony. In no time at all, the police arrived and took Viola to jail. The next day she was charged and fined, but she vowed to continue her struggle against such unfair rules. She refused to accept that being black meant she couldn't sit where she wanted.

Viola's determination gave strength and inspiration to her community at the time. She is an unsung hero of the North American struggle against injustice and racial discrimination whose story deserves to be widely known.

The African Canadian community in Nova Scotia is one of Canada's oldest and most established black communities. Despite their history and contributions to the province the people in this community have a long experience of racially based injustice.

Like Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks, who many years later, in 1955, refused to give up their bus seats in Alabama, Desmond's act of refusal awakened people to the unacceptable nature of racism and began and process of bringing an end to racial segregation in Canada.

An afterword provides a glimpse of African Canadian history.

Review Quotes

...the author of the children's book 'Viola Desmond Won't be Budged!' knows why she wanted to write the Halifax businesswoman's story... "There's not much that's there that's Canadian and this is such a great story."--Monica Graham "The Chronicle-Herald"

...a compelling story...--Marya Jansen-Gruber "Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews"

...impressive...--Evelyn C. White "Vancouver Sun"

...vibrant...-- "Canadian Teacher Magazine"

...warm and engaging...--Rosalie MacEachern "New Glasgow News"

Desmond's story should prove eye-opening to readers whose civil rights references are limited to American figures.-- "Publishers Weekly"

From the first page, Viola Desmond Won't be Budged! hooks the reader...an engaging delight to read.--Crystal Sutherland "CM Magazine"

Plain speech in the vernacular of the time and predominantly red-hued acrylic paintings that seem imbued with their subject's passion combine to great effect in this important but not-well-known piece of Canadian history.--Susan Perren "Globe and Mail"

Rudnicki's vivid, dramatic art intensifies the danger that Desmond's stubborn determination brought her, and it lends itself well to the warm recounting of the unnamed narrator.--Courtney Jones "Booklist"

This carefully-researched book provides young learners with an informative look at racial segregation in Canada and a pivotal event in the civil rights movement.-- "Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children"

Using a cadenced style that echoes the oral tradition of African-Canadians, Warner recounts the story...-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Varying perspectives heighten the emotional intensity, as do the excellent layout and design. This unique offering will be of particular value when studying women's or black history.--Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst "School Library Journal"