In my first blog post, I have chosen “Mapping Memories of Africville,” which discusses the demolition of Africville, a historic Black community in Halifax, Canada, during the 1960s. The post highlights the destruction of Africville as an example of anti-Blackness in Canadian history. In the 1980s, the Africville Genealogy Society (AGS) was established to preserve the community’s culture, utilizing digital humanities to engage with the past, present, and future of Africville. Through digital platforms, the AGS organized annual reunions on the former Africville grounds, capturing and sharing stories. This digital approach allowed for the affirmation of community life and advocacy for heritage, addressing redevelopment and land ownership issues in Africville’s history.
The author, Danielle Mahon, interviewed Africville residents Brenda and Linda, who created sketches of the neighborhood, highlighting important sites such as family homes, landmarks, social spaces, and the proximity to green and industrial areas. This incorporates Burdick’s idea of geographic analysis, digital mapping platforms, and interpretive historical practices to create a rich and multidimensional exploration of place. The website’s design reflects the principles of distant/close, macro/micro, and surface/depth, with interactive features such as scrolling and zooming on the embodied map in the background.
If the content were in the form of a printed book, it would be challenging for viewers to fully analyze and comprehend the various aspects of the map, including the emotional and cultural landscape. Additionally, the interactive nature of the maps would be lost in a static medium like print.
Author Danielle effectively incorporates Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren Klein’s concept of challenging power, which involves examining power dynamics and taking action against unjust systems, aligning with the principles of data feminism. The blog post demonstrates 1) Collecting counter data by utilizing the voices of Africville residents as a robust response to missing or neglected institutional data, and 2) Analyzing power by demanding an investigation into Africville land claims through a formal petition submitted by the AGS in 1987, demonstrating the need to hold institutions accountable. 3)Imagine: We cannot solely focus on inequitable outcomes, as that would prevent us from addressing the root cause of injustice. In “Mapping Memories of Africville,” the Africville land fighters aim to dismantle white supremacy and view the fight as a pathway to co-liberation. 4) Teach: The identities of data scientists are crucial. How can we engage and empower newcomers in the field to drive demographic shifts? In “Mapping Memories of Africville,” tensions over land use and perceptions of Africville, as well as the community’s determination to survive, led to numerous community-based efforts to reclaim their heritage. In later years, AGS empowered the community and celebrated the legacy and spirit of Africville, setting a benchmark for collaborative, community-driven exhibitions.
