Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia is a 1992 documentary film
by Sylvia Hamilton
, focusing on a group of Black Nova Scotian
students in a predominantly white high school in Halifax, Nova Scotia who face daily reminders of racism
. These students work to build pride and self-esteem through educational and cultural programs, discovering their heritage and learning ways to effect change. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada
, this 28-minute documentary received the Canada Award
at the 1994 Gemini Awards
from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
, as well as the 1994 Maeda Prize from NHK
.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
by Sylvia Hamilton
Sylvia Hamilton
Sylvia Hamilton is a Nova Scotia filmmaker, and writer whose work focuses on the experience of Black Nova Scotians.She has been honoured with several awards for her work, including a Gemini, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation’s Maeda Prize, the Progress Women of Excellence Award for Arts and...
, focusing on a group of Black Nova Scotian
Black Nova Scotians
Black Nova Scotians are people of Black African descent whose ancestors fled Colonial America as slaves or freemen to settle in Nova Scotia, Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries. According to the 2006 Census of Canada, there are 19,230 black people currently living in Nova Scotia, most of whom...
students in a predominantly white high school in Halifax, Nova Scotia who face daily reminders of racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. These students work to build pride and self-esteem through educational and cultural programs, discovering their heritage and learning ways to effect change. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
, this 28-minute documentary received the Canada Award
Canada Award
The Canada Award is presented by Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television during its Gemini Awards to honour excellence in "mainstream" English-language television programming that "reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada." It was introduced in 1988 as the Multiculturalism Award, and...
at the 1994 Gemini Awards
1994 Gemini Awards
The 8th Gemini Awards was held on March 6, 1994 to honour achievements in Canadian television. It was hosted by Albert Schultz and Valerie Pringle, and was broadcast on CBC.-Best Comedy Program:* The Kids in the Hall* Maniac Mansion...
from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a Canadian non-profit organization created in 1979 to recognize over 4,000 Canadian film industry and television industry professionals...
, as well as the 1994 Maeda Prize from NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
.