The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry

THE GREAT BLACK NORTH: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry is the first national anthology to focus solely on poetry by African Canadians. Many African Canadians know their history in North America since the 17th century. However, the rest of the world may be unaware of the history of enslaved Africans and slave auctions north of the 49th parallel, as well as the free Blacks, Loyalists and Maroons who made their journeys to the 'promised land' of Canada. The Great Black North is a valuable resource for the preservation of culture that is written and/or performed as dub poetry, spoken word and slam. At the heart of this book is a poetic blend of literary and oral traditions that recognizes the past and present as they form a tangible foundation for future generations of poets. This collection includes the work of over 90 poets working in many styles: the much-translated and internationally honoured Africadian George Elliott Clarke; Ian Keteku, who was crowned the 2010 World Poetry Slam champion; Lillian Allen, founder of the dub poetry tradition in Canada; Afua Cooper, who brought to light the hanging of an enslaved African woman, Marie Joseph Angélique, for the alleged burning of Montreal in 1734; and many others. The book is edited by Valerie Mason-John and Kevan Anthony Cameron, includes a preface by Karina Vernon, and an introduction by George Elliott Clarke. The Great Black North won the 2014 Robert Kroetsch Poetry Award.