Points North: African Canadian History for the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

When Robin Winks’ Blacks in Canada hit stores fifty years ago, critics heaped scorn on the idea of there being such a thing as African Canadian history – never mind a history worth telling. In the decades since, African Canadian history has blossomed from a topic that seemed the work of a curious few, to a field that has secured some of the highest awards and praise in Canadian history. This article explores the slippery uses of African American and African Canadian histories; Black Canadian historiography; critics of the canon; remaining gaps in the field; and new scholarship by some of the scholars – both the young and the seasoned – who are breaking new ground in African Canadian history. It also discusses podcasts, documentaries, websites, and television productions about African Canadian history.