The only African-Nova Scotian member of the provincial legislature is accusing some of his house colleagues of being racist.

Percy Paris, MLA for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank, said the behaviour started the day he was sworn in as an NDP member last June, and has continued since then.

The rookie politician said the heckling by Progressive Conservative and Liberal members in the house gets louder and more intense when he speaks, making the atmosphere "oppressive."

"The discrimination comes from being invisible," Paris said Tuesday, "and I could use a stronger word, but the avoidance of those individuals in the house of assembly that do not want to have contact with me."

Paris, a former student adviser at Dalhousie University, said sometimes when he sits down to a meal in the members' lounge at the legislature, other members choose to cram together at another table rather than sit with him.

Paris also said he's offended an MLA would describe another legislator using a derogatory term.

He said his caucus colleague, Leonard Preyra, was getting ready to vote on a motion last week when someone called him a "dark cloud."

Preyra, an Indo-Canadian, didn't hear the comment, nor is he ready to call it a racist slur. He said he's also not sure what to make of Paris's claim there are racists in the house.

"So much of this is someone's experience and perception, and so I don't know what to make of that," said Preyra, the MLA for Halifax Citadel.

Preyra said he hasn't experienced what Paris is describing, but he has experienced a lot rudeness.

Paris said he's not angry about the way he's being treated by some MLAs, but he wants it to change and feels he can no longer remain silent.

House Speaker Cecil Clarke said he'll listen to recordings of debate in the house to determine whether Paris is being treated differently from other members.

"I have never been party to any level of heckling or banter in the house between members that would be atypical of the normal procedures of the day," said Clarke.

"As anyone would know watching it, at times debate gets intense, emotions can run high."

Clarke said he's taking Paris's concerns seriously but the rookie MLA may need more time to get used to the cut and thrust of debate in the house.