Carrie Best facts for kids

Carrie Mae Best (born Prevoe; March 4, 1903 – July 24, 2001) was a Canadian journalist and social activist. She worked hard to fight for fairness and equality for Black people in Canada. She is known for starting the first newspaper in Nova Scotia that was owned and published by a Black person.

Who Was Carrie Best?

Carrie Best was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Her parents were James and Georgina Prevoe. In 1925, she married Albert T. Best.

Her Family Life

Carrie and Albert had one son, James Calbert Best, born in 1926. They also welcomed four foster children into their home: Berma, Emily, Sharon, and Aubery Marshall.

Fighting for Fairness

Carrie Best was a brave leader who stood up against unfair rules. She believed everyone should be treated equally.

Challenging Segregation

In 1943, Carrie Best and her son, James, went to the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow. At that time, many places had "segregation," which meant Black people were not allowed to sit in the main section. They had to sit in a separate area, usually upstairs.

Carrie bought tickets for the downstairs seats. She and James tried to watch a movie there. But they were told they couldn't sit in those seats because they were Black. Carrie and James challenged this unfair rule. They didn't win their case right away, but their actions helped bring attention to the problem.

Starting The Clarion Newspaper

The experience at the theatre made Carrie Best even more determined to fight for justice. In 1946, she started her own newspaper called The Clarion. This was a very important step because it was the first newspaper in Nova Scotia owned and published by a Black person.

The Clarion became a strong voice against racism. It shared stories about the lives of Black Nova Scotians. In its very first issue, Carrie Best wrote about Viola Desmond. Viola Desmond also challenged segregation at the Roseland Theatre. Her story became a very important human rights case in Canada.

Other Media Work

Carrie Best also used radio to share her message. In 1952, she started a radio show called The Quiet Corner. This show was on the air for 12 years. From 1968 to 1975, she wrote a column for The Pictou Advocate, another newspaper in Nova Scotia.

Her Son's Legacy

Carrie Best's son, James Calbert Best, also became a leader. He helped his mother start The Clarion. Later, he became a union activist and worked for the government. He even served as a high commissioner for Canada in Trinidad and Tobago.

Awards and Recognition

Carrie Best's hard work and bravery were recognized in many ways.

• In 1974, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors in Canada.
• In 1979, she was promoted to Officer of the Order of Canada.
• After she passed away, she was given the Order of Nova Scotia in 2002.
• On February 1, 2011, Canada Post honored her with a special postage stamp.
• On December 17, 2021, she was featured in a Google Doodle, which is a special drawing on the Google search page.

Carrie Best passed away in New Glasgow at the age of 98. She left behind a powerful legacy of fighting for human rights and equality.

See also

• Nova Scotia Heritage Day
• Black Nova Scotians