Black Writers Matter: Revised Edition

by Whitney French (Editor)

"Black Writers? African, Bluesy, Classical, Disrespectful, Erudite, Fiery, Groovy, Haunting, Inspiring, Jazzy, Knowing, Liberating, Militant, Nervy, Optimistic, Pugnacious, Quixotic, Rambunctious, Seductive, Truculent, Urgent, Vivacious, Wicked, X-ray sharp, Yearning, Zesty. And so, they matter!" ―George Elliott Clarke
An anthology of African-Canadian writing, Black Writers Matter offers a cross-section of established writers and newcomers to the literary world who tackle contemporary and pressing issues with beautiful, sometimes raw, prose. As editor Whitney French says in her introduction, Black Writers Matter “injects new meaning into the word diversity [and] harbours a sacredness and an everydayness that offers Black people dignity. ” An “invitation to read, share, and tell stories of Black narratives that are close to the bone,” this collection feels particular to the Black Canadian experience.

188 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2021

About the author

Whitney French is a writer based in the Toronto area although she does most of her eating, sleeping and actual writing in her hide-out north of the city. Her writing interests include character-driven fiction, children’s literature, screenwriting, poetry, speculative fiction and essaying. She recently graduated from Concordia University for Creative Writing and Child Psychology and works as a freelance writer.

But if you really want to know what Whitney is like…

She loves anime

She ties her shoes sitting down, always

She talks smack on the basketball courts but she’s really no good

She has an irrational fear of metal jewelry touching her skin

She hates chocolate

She taught herself how to play the guitar

She writes in trees often

Reviews

[gabrielle remy · Rating 4 out of 5]

good collection covering a wide range of experiences and pieces written by black canadians