The Heritagization of Africville: Tourism, Racism, and the Politics of Commemoration

Abstract

This dissertation critically examines the heritagization of Africville, a historic Black community in Halifax, Nova Scotia, through the theoretical framework of Critical Race Theory (CRT). Utilizing qualitative methodologies - including critical race methodology (CRM) and netnography, and methods such as semi-structured interviews with former residents, descendants, and stakeholders, participant observation at the Africville Annual Reunion, and document analysis of articles and online visitor reviews - the study investigates Africville’s transformation into a heritage tourism site and museum. The findings reveal how the Africville Museum functions as a site of racial resilience, collective memory, and anti-racism discourse, while simultaneously serving as a platform for reconciliation and healing. However, the research also interrogates how institutionalized reconciliation efforts may inadvertently reinforce marginalization within the "apology paradigm". By foregrounding lived experiences and visitor interpretations, the study highlights the dual function of Africville as both a commemorative space and a catalyst for social justice advocacy. It argues that museums must evolve beyond static repositories of history to become participatory spaces that foster agency, dialogue, and community ownership. This work contributes to scholarship on roots tourism, Black heritage preservation, and racial justice, offering practical insights into how heritage institutions can more equitably engage with histories of systemic racism and support transformative policy and public understanding in postcolonial Canadian contexts.