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The Blacks in Canada: A History
Using an impressive array of primary and secondary materials, Robin Winks details the diverse experiences of Black immigrants to Canada, including Black slaves brought to Nova Scotia and the Canadas by Loyalists at the end of the American Revolution, Black refugees who fled to Nova Scotia following the War of 1812, Jamaican Maroons, and fugitive slaves who fled to British North America. He also looks at Black West Coast businessmen who helped found British Columbia, particularly Victoria, and Black settlement in the prairie provinces. Throughout Winks explores efforts by African-Canadians to establish and maintain meaningful lifestyles in Canada. The Blacks in Canada investigates the French and English periods of slavery, the abolitionist movement in Canada, and the role played by Canadians in the broader continental antislavery crusade, as well as Canadian adaptations to nineteenth- and twentieth-century racial mores. The second edition includes a new introduction by Winks on changes that have occurred since the book's first appearance and where African-Canadian studies stands today.
576 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 1997
About the author
Robin W. Winks
85 books8 followersRobin W. Winks was an American academic, historian, diplomat, writer on the subject of fiction, especially detective novels, and advocate for the National Parks.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 17, 2012
"This has been, perhaps, a depressing story. It is also a petty one. The number of Negroes in Canada has never exceeded two or two and a half percent of the tptal population,...the percentage remains low, Perhaps for this reason alone, the story has not recountered before...to dismiss the many thousand's of Negroes who have walked across the Canadian stage since 1628-however silently-is to dismiss a human, interesting, and clearly visible segment of the wider Canadian story. That the story is a depressing one is, in itself, not surprising;..." So says the author of this book at near the end of it and I think this poignant piece deserves to be repeated because it sums up acutely the entirety of this book. That Canada's acts of discrimation against black people were no less than the discrimations against black people in the U.S. only there were differences and yet terrible simiarities. I agree with the author when he says that it is hardly surprising. Why should it come as a surprise? Even now is there any differences? Maybe legally but not with people. Not long ago I visited Nova Scotia and saw a museum to Africville with all its sickness and sadness but amazingly hope too. Another small group of people were there and there was a driver that I met with my mother and sister later. To him he told us nothing had changed from that time at Africville, nothing had changed! What could we say to that man? What was there to say? Things will get better?!? That would be worse than if we had publically snubbed him. What good would there be in over used ridiculous cliches? This book shows the ignored indifferent time in Canada's history that isn't so much history as it is ever present. A very well written book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in history, Canada, humanities and for anyone that seeks to know anything of the divisions in the world.
January 14, 2024
Getting through this book was a bit of a slog, mainly due to the heavy subject matter and the author's dry writing style coupled with what felt like an occasionally arrogant tone. It's intriguing that the author acknowledged some criticism in the preface to the second edition, yet there's minimal change in the text, aside from what appears to be just one word in the title. While the book does shed light on certain aspects, there are instances where assertions lack citations, and sentences seem to lack adverbs of certainty. Despite the author's attempt at a thorough analysis, some context is noticeably absent, and there's a sense of unawareness regarding his own biases. The second edition doesn't bring anything new to the table, with no additional information or statistics, making it seem like a rather lazy reprint. Overall, it does contain valuable information, but it falls short in addressing contemporary issues and incorporating more recent scholarship.
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December 10, 2019I was recommended to read this as part of my work. The recommendation came with the intention of informing me about the historical context of Black Canadians. This is an area I need a lot of education on, so I was happy to work on this gap.
Having finished it, I am very uncomfortable and not just for the reasons I expected. The datedness and the whiteness of the author is very, very apparent.
I've learned a lot of historical facts about the gross manipulation of the Black community by Canadian federal, provincial, and civic governments throughout the centuries. This was eye opening from as a legal timeline perspective.
Also, I am even more aware of how white our university history departments are. This has not changed, even since 1997 when this book was published in its second edition.
In the end, I wish there was a different book I could have read, by a black author writing much more recently about this topic. I just did a search to try and find other authors writing about this topic published in the last ten years. They are nearly all senior, white male academics. So, yup. Except one! I will be reading a book by Karen Flynn next.
Having finished it, I am very uncomfortable and not just for the reasons I expected. The datedness and the whiteness of the author is very, very apparent.
I've learned a lot of historical facts about the gross manipulation of the Black community by Canadian federal, provincial, and civic governments throughout the centuries. This was eye opening from as a legal timeline perspective.
Also, I am even more aware of how white our university history departments are. This has not changed, even since 1997 when this book was published in its second edition.
In the end, I wish there was a different book I could have read, by a black author writing much more recently about this topic. I just did a search to try and find other authors writing about this topic published in the last ten years. They are nearly all senior, white male academics. So, yup. Except one! I will be reading a book by Karen Flynn next.
December 30, 2020
In The Blacks in Canada: A History , Robin Winks offers a detailed look into the history of Black people in the Dominion of Canada starting with the first people of African descent who arrived at the same time as European settlers began colonizing the country. He details the history of enslavement in Canada, migration patterns, abolition movements and more.
Some of the depictions of Black people and words used made me cringe and I could tell that this book was not written by somebody who was BIPOC. For example, Winks refers to Black people as "Blacks" throughout the book (and in its title). I also found the book to be quite dry. It was written more as a history book that could be used in high schools than for leisurely reading. ALL THAT SAID, I found this book to be incredibly informative and helpful. This is the only book that I have been able to find that offers such an incredibly nuanced and detailed account of Black Canadian history and Winks' offerings are invaluable. I learned so much though this text.
Some of the depictions of Black people and words used made me cringe and I could tell that this book was not written by somebody who was BIPOC. For example, Winks refers to Black people as "Blacks" throughout the book (and in its title). I also found the book to be quite dry. It was written more as a history book that could be used in high schools than for leisurely reading. ALL THAT SAID, I found this book to be incredibly informative and helpful. This is the only book that I have been able to find that offers such an incredibly nuanced and detailed account of Black Canadian history and Winks' offerings are invaluable. I learned so much though this text.
October 7, 2023
One of the most seminal texts for readers looking to understand more about Black people in Canada from many different angles, time periods, and more. It's a great place to start for folks who want to get started but aren't sure where to begin.
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April 1, 2009Reviewed here.
February 16, 2010
Fascinating in depth history.
Incredible detail and source listing.
Incredible detail and source listing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews