Emma Ansah: From racism to reporting revolution

The scent of Montreal’s autumn air still lingers in Emma Ansah’s memory as she recalls the days when her family’s yard would mysteriously fill with garbage after returning from vacation. The sound of racial slurs being shouted from passing cars. The feeling of isolation as the only Black family in a south shore neighborhood that would define both her childhood and her life’s work.

“My parents came here as immigrants from Ghana, but I was born in Montreal,” Emma shares, her voice steady yet layered with the weight of experience. “I was cultured Ghanaian. I am a Ghanaian born in Canada.” This duality of identity that is rooted in African heritage, yet Canadian by birth, would become the foundation of her unique perspective as a media journalist and PR specialist.

Growing up in what she describes as a “very anti-Black racist environment,” Emma learned resilience early. The seven Ansah children: four brothers and three sisters, developed an unspoken pact to protect each other. “The kids in the neighbourhood would ride around calling us Black, or nigger, and we of course would beat them up,” she recalls without hesitation. “Then their parents would bring their beat-up children to my parents, and my parents would tell us to ignore them.”

The texture of those early years was rough with confrontation, yet softened by familial bonds, shaped Emma’s understanding of systemic racism. Her parents’ decision to enroll the children in French Immersion was strategic. “So that we would know what they were saying,” Emma explains. “We were told to fight back.”

This duality of response; ignore the provocations yet arm oneself with knowledge, resonates deeply with many from Caribbean and African immigrant families who navigate similar spaces between cultural preservation and assimilation. The rhythm of switching between languages, the code-switching required to move between worlds, becomes second nature.

When another Black family finally moved into their neighbourhood, Emma remembers the palpable shift in atmosphere. “It quieted down,” she says simply. The presence of another family like theirs created a buffer, a small community within a hostile environment. This experience planted the seeds of what would become her life’s work: creating spaces where Black voices could be heard and amplified.

“Because of that, I am very aware of microaggression,” Emma reflects. “This is why I am so passionate about what I do now. In 2025, we are still seeing this nonsense.” The frustration in her voice is tempered by determination, a quality that has carried her through multiple career transformations.

For 27 years, Emma worked as an accountant. “I have a knack for numbers,” she admits with a slight smile. The precision and analytical thinking required in accounting would later serve her well in media and PR, but the shift from numbers to narratives began with a sisterly act of support.

“My sister is an author, and I wanted to get her an interview at Sirius Radio,” Emma explains. “I got it for her, so after, I learned about PR, got some certifications, and started picking up clients.” The transition required confronting her fear of public speaking, a vulnerability she openly acknowledges. “That was a no, no for me. I was good with being in my safe bubble, but I had to confront that fear.”

The taste of that first step beyond her comfort zone was both terrifying and exhilarating. Emma slowly began putting herself out there, eventually moving from Toronto to Niagara, where she has lived for 19 years. In her new community, she noticed something that many others missed: Black-owned businesses operating in relative obscurity.

This observation led to the creation of her YouTube channel, “Freefalling in Niagara.” The name itself speaks to the courage required to leap into the unknown, a theme that resonates throughout her journey. Between the channel and her growing PR work, Emma began offering to promote these overlooked businesses, creating visibility where there had been none.

The sound of opportunity knocking came unexpectedly. “One day someone sent me a message saying that the African Diaspora News Channel was looking for a Canadian correspondent to speak about Anti-Black Racism,” Emma recalls. Without hesitation, she sent an email introducing herself. “They were impressed with what they heard.”

What followed was a testament to her preparedness and authenticity. “I set up my tripod, my camera, and told my story. I uploaded it into my Google Drive, and then just like that I got the job.” The simplicity of her description belies the significance of this moment, transforming from a victim of racism to a voice reporting on it.

Today, Emma contributes to Emancipation Media, The Daily Scrum News, and yourNEWS reporting on news affecting Black Americans. “People reach out to me from all over the world,” she notes, “I like to focus on Canada, though I do have autonomy.” Her recent expansion into live streams on African Diaspora represents yet another evolution in her growing media presence.

Yet, visibility brings vulnerability. “The only challenge I face is that I get a lot of hate messages from certain people,” Emma acknowledges. “That only fuels me. All this suggests to me is that I am doing something that hits. People will say to me that I should stop referring to Quebec as the racist core of Canada,” she continues. “I don’t hate anyone; I hate the conduct. Their hate does not move me.” This distinction between person and behavior reflects a profound emotional intelligence, a quality that makes her reporting both powerful and palatable.

Looking forward, Emma is focused on tangible change. “One challenge we are facing now is putting together an Anti-Hate Crime Bill,” she shares. The texture of this work (legal, political, and deeply personal) represents the culmination of her journey from accountant to advocate.

Her vision for the future centers on creating safe spaces for young people to share their experiences. “If we were able to create an event, or a workshop that we bring young people to and have them tell their stories,” she proposes. “They are afraid to talk because they think that their school marks would be impacted, they will be bothered in school, harassed. We have to create some safe spaces for them to speak, speak up.”

In Emma Ansah’s story, we see the transformation of personal pain into public purpose. From the racist taunts of her childhood to the hate messages of today, she has consistently chosen to respond with resolve. Her journey reminds us that the most powerful stories often emerge from the most challenging circumstances, and that courage, like resilience, is a muscle strengthened through use.