Over the past 10 years a select group of Black Americans have migrated here to Canada where I live and opening successful businesses in what was once a rundown and practically abandoned part of town.

Restaurants, internet cafes, used record shops, book stores, computer repair shops, consignment furniture stores, and artisan food markets. They have improved the value of my town and revitalized our local economy which was dying before they started moving in and buying up properties and opening these new businesses.

I learned from our local constable these people are all from the same neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY and they are a part of a collective called the Greenwood Movement. From what I understand they’ve pooled their financial resources together to invest in each other’s businesses. The leaders are a former rap singer turned investment banker and a pair of real estate brokers.

These people are outstanding, they built 34 successful businesses and improved our towns once bland culture.

I think the reason I’m so fascinated with them is because they also exposed my own prejudice. I must admit when I first heard that a particular part of town was being repopulated by Black American immigrants I was not happy. I was afraid that a rash of crime was going to come to our boring little town which hasn’t experienced any harm at the hands of these people since they’ve been here.

You spend years hearing stories about Americans and how they bring drugs and crime to Canada it scares you. That has not been the case here. These people have been an asset to our local community and the only liability I’ve witnessed have been the fear and hysteria created by some of our neighbors who have since moved out of town.

I guess what I’m saying is that I learned that people are just people…