Over the past couple of years I’ve noticed a more concerted effort by Canadians to actually celebrate Black History month. In my imagination at least, Black History month was more prominent in the US and not something Canadians reflected upon too much. Perhaps it’s a matter of where I live in Canada. Asian Heritage month in Vancouver is widely publicized, however, this is the first year I’ve seen media pointedly remarking on Black History month.
To that end, I’d like to recommend Lawrence Hill’s latest novel The Book of Negroes. I haven’t read it yet, but a friend recommended it last week and I was intrigued by a Montreal Gazette article this weekend.
Quote: Donna Bailey Nurse, Montreal Gazette, February 3, 2007:
The Book of Negroes: Author Lawrence Hill is passionate about black Canadian history and is the Canadian novelist whose work most articulately and imaginatively explains what the history of slavery has to do with us Canadians. He is a touch exasperated by how little we still seem to know about our black past, how desperately we cling to the image of Canada as a refuge for slaves. “It is a myth that Canada was simply the Promised Land and nothing else.” Hill explains. “How typically Canadian that we don’t even know the very first back-to-Africa movement is coming from Canadian shores,” muses Hill. “We Canadians had the first back-to-Africa movement in the world,” says Hill. “And that is just such a fascinating story.” —Read the article.