Viola Desmond Biography: Books, Parents, Siblings, Spouse, Death, Age, Net Worth, Controversy

Viola Desmond was a pioneering Canadian civil rights activist and businesswoman, best known for her courageous stand against racial segregation in 1946.

Her refusal to leave a “whites-only” section of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, led to her arrest and became a significant moment in Canadian history, inspiring future generations in the fight for equality.

Desmond’s legacy extends beyond her act of defiance; she was also an accomplished entrepreneur who established a successful beauty culture business, providing products and training for Black women at a time when such opportunities were scarce.

Profile

• Full name: Viola Irene Desmond
• Date of birth: July 6, 1914
• Age as of 2025: 111 (deceased)
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Nationality: Canadian
• Profession: Businesswoman, Civil Rights Activist
• Height: N/A
• Parents: James Albert Davis (father), Gwendolin Irene Davis (mother)
• Siblings: 10 siblings
• Spouse: Jack Desmond (married 1940)
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: N/A
• Ethnicity: Black Nova Scotian
• Net Worth: CAD 50k – CAD 150k

Early Life and Education

Viola Desmond, now deceased, is posthumously at the age of 111. She was born on July 6, 1914, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Raised in a middle-class family, she was one of ten children. Her father worked as a barber while her mother was involved in community activities. Viola survived the Halifax Explosion in 1917 and grew up aware of the racial barriers faced by Black Canadians.

After high school, Desmond briefly taught in segregated schools for Black students before pursuing her passion for beauty culture. She attended the Field Beauty Culture School in Montreal, one of the few institutions accepting Black students at that time. Further training took her to Atlantic City and New York City, where she honed her skills before returning to Halifax.

Personal Life

Viola Desmond married Jack Desmond in 1940. Together they built a life focused on community and entrepreneurship.

While they did not have children, their partnership supported Viola’s ambitions as a businesswoman and activist. Jack was supportive of her endeavors, which included opening her beauty salon and school.

Career

Desmond opened Vi’s Studio of Beauty Culture in Halifax after completing her training. She became a successful beautician and an influential figure within the Black community. In addition to her salon, she established the Desmond School of Beauty Culture to train young Black women in cosmetology, creating job opportunities that were otherwise limited due to racial discrimination.

Her most notable act occurred on November 8, 1946, when she refused to move from her seat at the Roseland Theatre. This act led to her arrest and conviction for tax evasion related to the seating issue. The publicity from her case highlighted systemic racism in Canada and served as a catalyst for civil rights activism.

Awards

Viola Desmond has received several posthumous honors recognizing her contributions to civil rights:

• Order of Canada (2010)
• Induction into the Nova Scotia Black Hall of Fame (2018)
• Her image is featured on the Canadian $10 bill (2018), making her the first Black woman to appear on Canadian currency.

Net Worth

As the owner of a successful beauty studio, beauty school, and product line in the 1940s, her net worth could reasonably be estimated to have ranged between $50,000 and $150,000 CAD (adjusted for inflation, this might be significantly higher in today’s terms).

Death

Viola Desmond passed away on February 7, 1965, in New York City due to complications from cancer.

Controversy

Viola Desmond’s legacy is intertwined with significant controversies surrounding racism and civil rights in Canada.

Her arrest for refusing to vacate a whites-only section of the Roseland Theatre sparked outrage and highlighted the systemic discrimination faced by Black Canadians. At that time, racial segregation was not legally entrenched but socially prevalent; thus, Desmond’s actions challenged societal norms.

The legal proceedings following her arrest revealed deep flaws within the justice system that failed to protect marginalized communities.

Her conviction for tax evasion related to her seating choice drew attention to how laws were manipulated against individuals fighting against racial injustice. Despite appealing her case, she faced significant obstacles as legal protections for Black Canadians were limited.

Desmond’s story remained largely unrecognized for decades until later generations brought attention to her contributions and sacrifices. The lack of acknowledgment during her lifetime has been seen as indicative of broader societal neglect regarding Black history in Canada.

Activists have worked diligently to ensure that Desmond’s legacy is honored and remembered as part of Canada’s civil rights narrative.

In recent years, discussions surrounding racial equality have reignited interest in Desmond’s life and actions. Her story serves as both an inspiration and a reminder of ongoing struggles against racism and discrimination within Canadian society today.

Social Media

• Instagram: N/A
• Twitter: N/A

Books

• Viola Desmond: Her Life and Times by Graham Reynolds and Wanda Robson
• Viola Desmond’s Canada: A History of Blacks and Racial Segregation in the Promised Land by Graham Reynolds