The Loyalist Connections Podcast

In this special episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, hosts Shawn and Laurice sit down with artist Duane Jones.  Duane shares his journey of coming to Nova Scotia, the founding of his business, Art Pays Me, and the challenges of entrepreneurship in the art industry. 

Join us as we explore the contrasting realities of Greenville, Nova Scotia, through the eyes of Troy Lawrence.

This episode highlights the lived experience of moving to a predominantly white community, unraveling the layers of both subconscious and conscious racial segregation. Troy explains how subconscious segregation manifests as an automatic, often unnoticed division along racial lines, while conscious segregation is a more overt and intentional act. 

Troy's heartfelt narrative weaves historical threads into our contemporary fabric, offering a powerful perspective that is both enlightening and deeply moving.

In this episode, our hosts Shawn and Laurice, alongside historian Graham Nickerson, continue their journey and uncover the often-overlooked history of Saint John, New Brunswick and deep ties to the Black Loyalist migration.   

From skilled tradespeople to labourers and entrepreneurs, their work fuelled the growth of Saint John's economy, leaving an indelible mark on its history. This episode aims to shift the historical lens, bringing into focus the experiences of Black Loyalists in New Brunswick.  Join us for a journey into the heart of a community's resourcefulness, resilience, and enduring legacy. 

North Preston is one of the oldest and largest Indigenous Black populations whose residents are the ancestors of Black Loyalists (1783), The Jamaican Maroons (1796) and the Black Refugees from the War of 1812 who all settled in Atlantic British North America at different times. The conversation with Nevell Provo weaves the legacy of the regions past to the present as we discuss a better projection of the community’s future. With Nevell’s penetrating insights we walk the listener through strong pillars and structures of black families and the intersections and relationships of black communities. 

Join us and our special guest Bruce Johnson who is a current resident of Yarmouth, one of the 300 African Nova Scotians residing in the County. Bruce and our hosts dive into the historic racial environment of Yarmouth where the status of Black people started as slaves, who arrived in 1760 with the New England Planters. The status of Black people in the region further shifted with the introduction of Black Loyalists. They discuss the legacy of the unwritten rules of race-based segregation that shaped and influenced how Black people existed in Yarmouth then and today.

Come learn about Whitney Pier with us and our special guest Bradley Sheppard. Whitney Pier was the home to several black Caribbean immigrants who came to Cape Breton in search of work for the Dominion Iron and Steel Company. This episode starts important conversations about the transportation and then planting of Black bodies to perform as surrogates in the building of communities. Additionally, if you are a fan of the late great Bob Marley there are some interesting connections made to him in this episode.

Join us and our special guest Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch as we discuss the Black settlement of Beechville. The community settled about 2000 Black refugees from the War of 1812, who arrived from Chesapeake Virginia, Bermuda, Georgia and more settled in until 1816. This episode we dive into the theft of historically Black land, given to Black communities as the scraps of their agreements with the British and then the nova Scotia government. Listen and learn as we talk about all that is lost and destroyed in white consumption of Black land.

Loyalist Connections is a journey of rediscovery, led by hosts Shawn Smith and Laurice Downey. These two old friends want to better understand their Black Loyalist ancestors and what happened to the communities they settled. In this episode, you will get to know our hosts a little better, why they are doing this podcast, and what they hope to achieve.