Library

Works by prominent African Canadian authors.

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Teaching the texts:  autobiography as a genre
Each of the autobiographies presents opportunities in both the Language and Social Studies strands of the curriculum, and at various grade levels.

Some resources for working with autobiography:

Thematic indexes to Autobiographies

Scholastic: Writing Autobiogaphy Lesson Plan 6-8

Scholastic: Writing Autobiogaphy Lesson Plan 9-12

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute Curriculum w Lesson Plans

At the centre of all four autobiographies are the authors' experiences of living with and resisting racism and discrimination. Motivating each author is the desire to document African Canadian presence in Canada, to give an account of the impact of racism on their lives, and to explore and explain the various ways in which they resisted the racism that sought to degrade and limit them. Two authors, Stanley Grizzle and Herb Carnegie, were born and raised in Toronto, the children of Jamaican immigrants. Carol Talbot, a descended of African American fugitives, grew up in Windsor, Ontario; Cheryl Foggo, descendent of African American settlers in the prairies, grew up in Calgary, and so represents and speaks of a somewhat different place and history. Rich in detail and observation, the texts raise many issues, and will be a rich resource in literacy and social studies curricula.

One Down book cover

One Down
(On Viola Desmond)
- Dionne Brand

Full PDF
For reasons of copyright, this material is available to subscribers only

Thumbnail of Pourin' Down Rain book cover

Pourin' Down Rain
- Cheryl Foggo

Full PDF
Chapter 3: Hairday
Notes on Cheryl Foggo PDF
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Thumbnail of Growing Up Black in Canada book cover

Growing Up Black in Canada
- Carol Talbot

Part 1 | Part 2
Notes on Carol Talbot PDF
The Greatest Freedom Show
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Thumbnail of Harriet's Daughter book cover

Harriet's Daughter
- Marlene NourbeSe Philip

Part 1 | Part 2
For reasons of copyright, this material is available to subscribers only

Thumbnail of Breaking the Ice book cover

Breaking The Ice
- Cecil Harris

(Chapter) A Pioneer in Search of Fame
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Thumbnail of Willie O'Ree autobiography book cover

Hockey's Black Pioneer
- Willie O'Ree

PDF 1 PDF 2 PDF 3 PDF 4
Notes on Willie O'Ree
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Thumbnail of Fly in a Pail of Milk book cover

Fly in a Pail of Milk
- Herbert Carnegie

PDF 1 | PDF 2 | PDF 3
Notes on Herb Carnegie PDF
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Maigre Dog
- Donna James

Video
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Thumbnail of My Name's Not George book cover

My Name's Not George
- Stanley G. Grizzle

Part 1 | Part 2
Notes on Stanley G. Grizzle PDF
For reasons of copyright, the above text and news article below are available to subscribers only (see resources for articles available to the public)

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